The Assin North by-election has been a topic of great interest in Ghana's political landscape, with the eligibility of James Gyakye Quayson, the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) parliamentary candidate, at the forefront of the debate.
The NDC has come out in full support of Mr. Quayson, insisting that he is innocent and has broken no law, and that his legal battle is a victim of political injustice.
The deputy general secretary of the NDC, Mustapha Gbande, spoke to Citi News and emphasized that the party will be showing its solidarity with Mr. Quayson in court.
Despite wide beliefs that the government is trying to influence the court in Mr. Quayson's criminal case, the NDC and the people of Assin North stand with him.
"People believe that government machinery is trying to influence the court to do injustice to Gyakye Quayson, but we don’t believe that he has done any criminality, or he has committed any crime," said Mr. Gbande.
"His lovers are going to be campaigning in his absence and then also see him through the court case. So you cannot pretend to feel what he is feeling, he is not in it alone, he is in it with the party and the party is solidly behind him and Ghanaians are solidly behind him and the people of Assin North are solidly behind him."
Mr. Quayson faces charges of deceiving a public official and perjury and is expected to appear in court on June 20. His lawyers had attempted to have the trial postponed until after the by-election, but their request was denied.
They also requested that the proceedings be stayed as the accused is a candidate in the by-election scheduled for June 27, but this was also denied. The court has instead set June 20 for the state to continue with the testimony of its witnesses.
In the latest twist, Mr. Quayson's counsel has applied to the High Court to review its order that he must appear in court every day for the hearing of his trial. The outcome of this application remains to be seen, but it is clear that the NDC will continue to show its support for Mr. Quayson in his legal battle and upcoming by-election.
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