[2015]DLSC3254 • November 11, 2015 • Supreme Court •
MUSAMA DISCO CHRISTO CHURCH vs. PROPHET MIRITAIAH JONA JEHU-APPIAH
The defendant, Prophet Miritaiah Jona Jehu-Appiah, leader (Akaboha) of the Musama Disco Christo Church, was accused in a 2002 publication of drugging and raping a junior secondary school girl. The church's executive council urged him to sue the publishers, but he preferred an appeal to stop further publications. An investigative committee found the defendant guilty of sexual misconduct and other immoral acts contrary to the church's constitution and Bible. The defendant was suspended and later removed from office by the church's general assembly (I’Odomey conference). Some family members challenged his removal, claiming the office was held for life and could not be revoked.
read moreATUGUBA, J.S.C: FACTS: The Defendant/Appellant/Appellant (hereinafter called the ‘defendant’) is the leader (Akaboha) and the head of the Plaintiff/Respondent/Respondent (hereinafter called the ‘plaintiff-Church). In 2002, Bold and Beautiful (a periodical) published an article alleging that the defendant had drugged and raped a JSS girl. Scandalized by this, the executive council of the plaintiff church met and urged the defendant to institute a libel action against the publishers of the periodical. The defendant however only pleaded that the plaintiff church should rather ‘appeal’ to the publishers to stop further similar publications. The executive council then set an investigative committee to delve into the allegation. The investigative committee found that the defendant had indeed committed the act he had been accused of and had also committed other sexual misconduct contrary to the Church’s constitution and Bible. The defendant’s reaction was that he was res...