DOE vs. THE REPUBLIC [1971]DLHC2107

Date	1971-02-03
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1971]DLHC2107

EDUSEI J.

J. MERCER FOR THE APPELLANT.

A. TAGOE FOR S. G. BADDOO STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1971]DLHC2107
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >DOE<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;vs. <o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT,
SEKONDI]<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[1971] 1 GLR 235<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:
3 FEBRUARY 1971.<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">

J. MERCER
FOR THE APPELLANT.<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">

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

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF EDUSEI J.<o:p></o:p>The
appellant pleaded guilty to a charge of assault under section 48 of the
Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29), before the District Court Grade II, Takoradi, and
was convicted and sentenced to a fine of N¢50.00 or three months’ imprisonment
with hard labour on 15 December 1970. She has appealed against her sentence and
the order recommending her deportation. The grounds of appeal filed by her
counsel are as follows:<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">(1) The sentence is harsh and
unconscionable.<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">(2) The recommendation for
deportation is unjustified in law.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
arguments of counsel for the appellant centred mainly around ground (2).
Section 12 (1) (a) and (2) of the Aliens Act, 1963 (Act 160), read as follows:
“12. (1) An alien is liable to deportation—<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">(a) if a
Court recommendation for his deportation is effective under the following subsection;
or ... <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">(2) A
court recommendation for the deportation of alien shall be effective for the
purposes of paragraph (a) of the preceding subsection if it was made by a court
on conviction of an offence for which the court had power to impose a sentence
of imprisonment without the option of a fine, and— (a) on appeal against
conviction or sentence the appellate court concurred in the recommendation, or
(b) no such appeal was brought within the time allowed for appeals, but— <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) the
recommendation was made by the High Court, or <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) the
recommendation was made by an inferior court and was concurred in by the<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">Chief
Justice.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Counsel
referred to section 12 (2) of Act 160 and his chief contention was that if the
offence with which the accused was charged attracted a fine or a term of
imprisonment then the recommendation for deportation was out. Counsel is in
effect saying that the only occasion that a court can recommend deportation is
where the offence is punishable by a term of imprisonment only. This is the
substance of Mr. Mercer’s arguments. I do not subscribe to this interpretation
for if it were so the draftsman would have employed words to that effect. He
could have said something like this:<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">“A court
recommendation for deportation of an alien shall be effective for the purposes
of paragraph (</main>