THE REPUBLIC vs. EBUSUAPANYIN KOJO EWIAH HAMMOND EX PARTE OPANIN KWAMINA AMOESI & ANOR

The critical issue that has arisen in this contempt application is whether or not the respondent once found liable and dealt with by this court (differently constituted) could be re-arraigned to answer a fresh charge of contempt on substantially the same set of facts. It is contended that this fresh application is incompetent or otherwise an abuse of the process of the court and ought to be dismissed. But how did the whole controversy begin? The applicant filed an application in the High Court pursuant to section 2 of the Head of Family Accountability Law, 1985, PNDCL 114 seeking an order compelling the respondent to account for the income that had accrued to their Royal Abrotu Ebiradze family as head of the said family. The said application was referred to an ADR process but settlement was not achieved. It does appear from the record though the respondent sought to dispute the fact that in the attempted settlement, he had delivered a statement of account which was found not satisfact...