OSEI vs. SIRIBOUR II

JUDGMENT OF ADADE J.S.C. Adade J.S.C. delivered the judgment of the court. In 1982 the appellant, J. T. Osei (hereafter referred to as the plaintiff) sued the respondent, Nana Otuo Siribour II, Omanhene of the Juaben Traditional Area (hereafter referred to as the defendant) in the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs for reliefs which are better quoted than paraphrased, viz: “Wherefore the petitioner [plaintiff] claims that [the judicial committee of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs] may: (a) Declare that the petitioner is a royal of the Juaben paramount stool of Ashanti; (b) Direct the respondent to recognise and to treat the petitioner as such.” The plaintiff alleges that there are three main branches of the Juaben royal family. These are the Nana Dwuwaa branch; the Nana Akua Mensah branch; and the Nana Abrafi Mensah branch. He claims that he descends from the Nana Dwuwaa branch through one Nana Abena Serwaa an elder sister of Nana Dwuwaa. Many many years ago,...