Source: newsthemegh.com
On Friday, April 19, James Gyakye Quayson, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, is scheduled to have his fourth witness called by his attorneys in the ongoing trial.
On trial is Mr. Quayson, who falsely claimed he was a Ghanaian citizen in order to trick the Ministry of Foreign Affairs into giving him a passport.
Forgery and perjury charges are being brought against Mr. Quayson in connection with some purported offenses that occurred in the lead-up to the 2020 Assin North parliamentary election.
He has entered a not guilty plea to five charges of perjury, making a false statutory declaration, forging a passport or travel certificate, and making a false declaration for official purposes.
According to the prosecution, when Mr. Quayson sought for a Ghanaian passport, he falsely claimed to the passport office that he did not have a passport to another nation.
Furthermore, the prosecution has charged Mr. Quayson with fabricating a statement to the Electoral Commission (EC) stating that, at the time of his filing to run for the Assin North seat, he had no allegiance to any foreign nation.
Attorneys for Mr. Quayson requested original copies of all documents pertaining to their client’s passport application in court on Friday, April 12.
The court, chaired by Justice Mary Yanzuh, rejected the claim, stating that since the original documents can be addressed during cross-examination, reexamining the documents would amount to a duplication of the previously heard material.
As a result, the judge postponed the case until April 19 so that Gyakye Quayson’s attorneys may cross-examine the prosecution witness.