Ablakwa: Ken Agyapong, Adwoa Safo must suffer same fate as Assin North MP 

Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) especially its members in parliament must treat the New Patriotic Party (NPP) members the same way they are handling Assin North lawmaker, James Gyekye Quayson.

Mr Ablakwa called on his party to deal with the three absentee NPP lawmakers, Kennedy Agyapong, Sarah Adwoa Safo and Henry Quartey who have been referred to the Privileges Committee by the Speaker.

He noted that the NPP are determined to have a by-election in Assin North and nothing will get in their way.

“If there is one thing you have to credit President Akufo-Addo and his coterie – it’s their killer instinct. They are determined to have a by-election in Assin North and absolutely nothing must get in their way.

“I hope this informs my own party’s conduct from hence, particularly in how we deal with the three NPP absentee MPs especially when comparatively we have a much stronger and irrefutable constitutional basis to do so.”

His comments come after the Supreme Court by a majority decision of 5-2 has ordered the Assin North Member Parliament James Gyekye Quayson from holding himself as a lawmaker.

Justices Agnes Dordzie and Nene Amegatcher dissented while Prof. Henrietta Mensah Bonsu, Mariama Owusu, Gertrude Torkornoo, and Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi voted in favour.

Cape Coast High Court, presided over by Justice Coram Kwasi Boakye, had earlier ruled that Mr Gyakye Quayson was not eligible to contest the December 7, 2020 Parliamentary Elections because he held dual citizenship before picking nomination forms from the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC).

Fresh elections were, as a result, ordered to be conducted while Mr Gyakye Quayson was asked to cease from holding himself as MP.

But the man accused of having Canadian and Ghanaian citizenship allegedly goes to Parliament to join in proceedings.

Following the ruling, the Attorney General, Mr Godfred Dame said Mr Gyekye Quayson must suffer the fate of former New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Bawku Adamu Dramani Sakande.

Mr. Adamu Sakende was sentenced for two years imprisonment after he was found guilty of false declaration of office, perjury and deceiving a public officer.

He was sentenced on three counts of perjury, false declaration and deceit of a public officer. He contested the Bawku seat even though he had not conclusively denounced his UK Citizenship.

Mr Godfred Dame said ” think that there ought to be even application of the law , there ought to be an equal application of the law, the same fate that befell Adamu Sakande who was not qualified at the time that nominations were opened and we all know what happened to him.

Subsequently, they declared him ineligible and his seat was taken away so there ought to be even application of the law.”