James Gyakye Quayson, the Member of Parliament representing Assin North, has revealed the motivations that propelled him into Ghanaian politics after years of residing in Canada.
His re-election, following the Supreme Court’s nullification of his 2020 election victory, has prompted him to share the story of his political journey, which was influenced by his late mother and the legacy of former President Professor John Evans Atta-Mills.
Having successfully secured re-election after the 2020 election outcome was declared void by the Supreme Court, Quayson recounted the pivotal role his late mother played in encouraging him to return to Ghana and contribute to the development of his hometown, Assin Breku.
In an interview on Citi TV’s “Face to Face” with Umaru Sanda, Quayson discussed his transition back to Ghana, highlighting his full-time entry into politics in 2016.
He shared, “The notion of coming back to my homeland to assist my community or at least engage with them took shape in 2016. Over the years, my parents had been visiting Toronto intermittently. My mother’s final visit to Canada was in 2004, and she spent four consecutive years with the family. Just before her departure in 2008, she had a heartfelt one-on-one conversation with me, expressing her appreciation for my life’s endeavors.”
Quayson continued, “However, she had a specific request—to return and witness the living conditions of our people. As a Queen Mother in Assin Bereku, she held a leadership role and cared deeply for the well-being of the community. Her words resonated with me, and I began contemplating the idea.”
Even prior to his mother’s advice, Quayson maintained a close relationship with the late President Professor John Evans Atta-Mills. Reflecting on their conversations, he said, “In 2011, President Mills visited Toronto just a year before his passing. Our discussions mirrored those I had with my mother. He encouraged me to return home and support the party’s cause, as our opponents criticized us for lacking educated members. This solidified my decision, and my journey back home commenced in 2016.”
Quayson also shared that the local chiefs and members of his party endorsed him to run uncontested in the 2020 elections, a contest he emerged victorious from.
“By 2016, I had received invitations from the chiefs and elders of Assin Breku to consider representing the constituency. My father’s internal dialogue aligned with my mother’s earlier sentiments. I participated in the NDC primaries in 2016, faced defeat, but persisted. Returning in 2019, the party, chiefs, elders, and constituency executives rallied behind me, leading to my uncontested run in the 2020 elections.”
However, Quayson is currently embroiled in legal issues, facing charges of forgery and perjury. The state is pursuing allegations of deceiving a public officer, forgery of travel documents, making false statutory declarations, perjury, and false declarations for office.
