The Supreme Court of Ghana has raised concerns over the continuous absence of James Gyakye Quayson, the Member of Parliament for Assin North, despite filing applications before the court.
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo pointed out that this has become a recurring pattern, with the MP frequently failing to appear on scheduled hearing dates after filing applications.
During the recent commencement of proceedings, James Gyakye Quayson was once again absent, prompting the Chief Justice to inquire about the reasons behind his non-appearance. Lawyer Justin Tarewagya, representing Gyakye Quayson, offered an apology but could not provide a satisfactory explanation for his client’s absence.
Justice Amadu Tanko, a member of the bench, highlighted the practice of having counsel depose to the affidavit in support of the application on behalf of Gyakye Quayson. He cautioned all lawyers that such a practice might lead to complications and emphasized the necessity for active participation in court processes. Gyakye Quayson’s lawyer assured the court that he would advise his client accordingly to ensure his presence in future proceedings.
The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of upholding proper legal procedures and urged individuals involved in court cases to actively participate and respect the court’s schedule.
In a related matter, the Supreme Court has dismissed an application by James Gyakye Quayson seeking to quash a decision by the high court that denied his request for further disclosures in the ongoing criminal trial he is facing.
Gyakye Quayson’s lawyers had filed a certiorari application, arguing that the trial judge made an error in denying their request to direct the Attorney General’s office to provide additional disclosures. They contended that the judge’s decision was based on a document from the Attorney General without an accompanying affidavit, rendering it invalid.
Justin Tarewagya, representing Gyakye Quayson, objected to the court’s reliance on the non-affidavit document, claiming it lacked the necessary legal weight.
Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame opposed the certiorari application, asserting that it was incomplete as it lacked proof of authority from the lawyer, which violated court rules.
After careful consideration of the arguments presented, the Supreme Court ruled that Gyakye Quayson’s application lacked merit and subsequently upheld the decision of the high court regarding further disclosures in the criminal trial.
