Investigative journalist and Editor-in-Chief of The Fourth Estate, Manasseh Azure Awuni has questioned the rationale behind President Akufo-Addo’s sayings that the people of Assin North should reject the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s parliamentary candidate, James Gyakye Quayson in the upcoming by-election because he’s likely to be imprisoned.
James Gyakye Quayson, according to the President, will be unable to fulfill his obligations as a Member of Parliament (MP) of the constituency.
President Akufo-Addo speaking at the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s final rally ahead of the by-election scheduled for Tuesday, June 27 claimed that Mr. Quayson may go to prison as a result of the criminal case he is currently involved in, which would leave the Constituency without a member of parliament.
He pleaded with Assin North voters to support Charles Opoku, the NPP’s nominee and reject Mr. Quayson adding that, the election is crucial for the constituency and the nation as a whole.
“We should not support or vote for individuals who are entangled in legal controversies that may eventually lead them to face imprisonment. We need someone who can come and help you. Someone who will work in your interest. I heard Gyakye Quayson say that even in prison, you people will vote for him, can he work from jail?
The President added, “We vote for people to go to Parliament to work, how can he work from prison? So don’t vote for someone who will end up in jail, vote for someone who can work to improve your lives”.
Reacting to the comment of the President in a Facebook post, he wrote: “Akufo-Addo has told the people of Assin North not to vote for Gyakye Quayson because he cannot work from prison. Is this not contempt of court? Why is the president so sure that Mr. Quayson will end up in prison? How does he know the outcome of a case that is just starting?”.
