Gyakye Quayson acquitted and discharged after 3-year legal battle over perjury, other charges

James Gyakye Quayson, the Member of Parliament for Assin North, has been acquitted and discharged by the High Court after facing criminal charges linked to allegations of dual citizenship.

The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, concludes a long-standing legal battle over claims that Quayson held Canadian citizenship when he filed to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections—an act the prosecution argued violated the Ghanaian Constitution.

Quayson, who consistently denied the allegations, had maintained that he renounced his Canadian citizenship prior to filing his nomination. Speaking after the ruling, he expressed relief over the court’s decision.

The acquittal followed a submission of no case to answer filed by Quayson’s legal team. In its decision, the court held that the prosecution had failed to prove the essential elements of the alleged offences.

The judge ruled that Quayson had not made any false declarations in his 2020 nomination forms. At the time he declared that he owed allegiance to no country other than Ghana, the court found that he had already submitted an application to renounce his Canadian citizenship—demonstrating that he had no dishonest intent.

The court also pointed out inconsistencies in the passport summary sheet and statutory declarations provided by prosecution witnesses, undermining the credibility of the evidence presented.

As a result, the judge concluded that there was no basis to call Quayson to open his defence.

Quayson had faced five charges, including forgery of a passport or travel certificate, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury, and false declaration for office.

The prosecution alleged that he made false claims to the Passport Office and the Electoral Commission by stating that he did not hold allegiance to another country.

With the High Court’s ruling, the legal cloud over Quayson’s parliamentary seat has been lifted, allowing him to continue his work as a legislator without further legal obstruction.