Accra - Tsatsu Tsikata, the counsel for James Gyakye Quayson, the Member of Parliament for Assin North, has requested the High Court to reconsider its November 3 decision to conduct the trial in his client's absence. This appeal was made during a recent court session presided over by Justice Mary Yanzuh.
According to Ghana News Agency, neither he nor his client was aware of the court's sitting on November 3, 2023, where the decision to possibly proceed with the trial in Quayson's absence was made. Gyakye Quayson, who faces charges of perjury and deceiving a public officer, was instructed by the court on that date to either appear in person or join the proceedings via a virtual link on November 9. He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The directive for the trial to potentially continue in absentia stemmed from the failure of Quayson and his legal team to attend the proceedings on the last adjourned date. Justice Yanzuh indicated that the trial might proceed without the accused if he, without a reasonable basis, failed to attend future sessions.
Mr. Tsikata informed the court that his client was in Canada for medical tests and treatment. He mentioned that efforts were underway to update the court on Quayson's medical status. However, Justice Yanzuh noted that there was no concrete evidence before the court to verify the accused's medical condition and therefore treated the claim as unsubstantiated.
Consequently, the judge ordered the continuation of the trial under article 19(3b) of the 1992 constitution in the absence of Gyakye Quayson. She also directed Mr. Tsikata to conclude his cross-examination of the first prosecution witness, Richard Takyi, who had been testifying since July 2022.
It is noteworthy that the Supreme Court had previously annulled Quayson's election as the Member of Parliament for Assin North due to his dual Canadian and Ghanaian citizenship at the time of filing his nomination in 2020. However, following a by-election held by the Electoral Commission, the constituents of Assin North re-elected him to represent them in Parliament.