STATE vs. ESSIAMA LOCAL COURT; EX PARTE EZOAH [1965]DLHC1856

Date	1965-12-01
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1965]DLHC1856

DJABANOR J.

T. A. MENSAH FOR THE APPLICANT.

KALEO-BIO FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1965]DLHC1856
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >STATE <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>ESSIAMA LOCAL COURT; EX PARTE EZOAH <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, SEKONDI]<o:p></o:p>[1965] GLR 707<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

DATE:
1 DECEMBER 1965.<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

T. A. MENSAH FOR THE APPLICANT.<o:p></o:p>

KALEO-BIO FOR THE RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

DJABANOR J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF DJABANOR J.<o:p></o:p>This is
an application by Ezoah of Ankobra of Western Region of Ghana for an order of
this court prohibiting the local court at Essiama from hearing the suit
entitled The Clerk of Council v. Ezoah.<o:p></o:p>The
charge reads as follows:<o:p></o:p>“That you
on the 7th day of October 1965 at Ankobra in the jurisdiction of this Nzima
Division 1 Local Court did fish in the sea in the area of the Nkrofro Local
Council without fishing licence, contrary to Rule 2 of the Nkrofro Local
Council (Control of Fishing) Bye-Laws of 1963.”<o:p></o:p>The
application is brought on the following grounds:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“(i) In
or about 1963, the Nkrofro Local Council enacted bye-laws by which any person
intending fishing in the sea must first of all obtain a fishing licence of £G5
(five pounds) or ¢12. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(ii)
These bye-laws were made without the prior consultation of the Nzima Fishermen
Society. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(iii) The
Nzima Fishermen Society have therefore rightly declined to obtain the licences
as they argued that the local council had no jurisdiction to make such
bye-laws.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">&nbsp;(iv) The Nkrofro Local Council, therefore, to
enforce the local bye-laws have now instituted proceedings in their own local
court to compel the various fishermen to pay the tax; the case comes on at
Essiama Local Court, on Monday, 18 October 1965. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(v) The
question therefore falls within two issues: Have the local authority any powers
to make bye-laws affecting rights to fish in the sea, contrary to Act 175 and
Act 54? (Territorial Waters and Continental Shelf Act, 1963) and (Local
Government Act, 1961 with its amendments, respectively). <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(vi) This
particular bye-law raises a question of great constitutional matter which is
ultra vires the local council. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(vii)
Another issue that the court must decide in conjunction with the writ of
summons issued by the local council is whether the local council can issue a
writ and be a party to the suit in her own court so as to enforce in her own
court bye-laws that she herself had previously enacted. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(viii)
These issues are grave constitutional issues, and the applicant therefore
applies for leave to apply for an order of prohibition prohibiting the local
magistrate from proceeding with the hearing of the case fixed for 18 October
1965.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>According
to clause (i) of these grounds the Nkrofro Local Council has enacted bye-laws
by which any person intending to fish in the sea must first of all obtain a
fishing licence of £G5. The bye-law concerned was exhibited in this
application.<o:p></o:p>