ABABIO vs. THE REPUBLIC [1971]DLHC2178

Date	1971-12-22
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1971]DLHC2178

MENSA BOISON J.

ATTAKORA AMO FOR ACHEAMPONG FOR THE APPELLANT.

G. E. K. AIKINS FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1971]DLHC2178
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ABABIO <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH COURT, KUMASI]<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;[1972] 1 GLR 347<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

DATE:
22 DECEMBER 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">

ATTAKORA AMO FOR ACHEAMPONG FOR THE APPELLANT. <o:p></o:p>

G. E. K. AIKINS 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">

MENSA BOISON J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF MENSA BOISON J.<o:p></o:p>The
appellant was before the events which led to his prosecution the chief of
Kaase, within the Kumasi Traditional Council and a member of the said council.
On 28 July 1969 he was convicted before the Circuit Court, Kumasi, of the
offence of failing to attend meetings of the traditional council, contrary to
paragraphs 5A (1) and 5A (2) (b) of the Chieftaincy (Amendment) Decree, 1966
(N.L.C.D. 112), as amended by the Chieftaincy (Amendment) (No. 3) Decree, 1967
(N.L.C.D. 203). The particulars charged as follows: “Nana Owusu Yaw Ababio as
Kaasehene on the 22nd day of August, 1968 at Kumasi in the Ashanti Circuit and
within the jurisdiction of this court, without reasonable excuse failed to attend
a meeting of the Kumasi Traditional Council to which he had been summoned.” On
his conviction thereof he was sentenced to a fine of N¢50.00 or in default
three months’ imprisonment. It is against this conviction that he has appealed
and upon the 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">“(1) That
the learned circuit judge was wrong in law in overruling defence counsel’s
submission of ‘No case’ and holding that your petitioner was a person affected
by paragraphs 5A (1) and 5A (2) of N.L.C.D. 112 as amended by N.L.C.D. 203. <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) That
the learned circuit judge was therefore wrong in law calling upon your
petitioner to enter into his defence and subsequently convicting him.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
offence is created by the amending N.L.C.D. 203 to N.L.C.D.112 which is
referred to as the “principal enactment.” It amends N.L.C.D. 112 by the
addition immediately after paragraph 5 thereof of the following new paragraph:<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">“5A (1).
Any person who contravenes any provision of this Decree shall be guilty of an
offence.<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)
Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing sub-paragraph and
notwithstanding the provisions of section 18 of the Chieftaincy Act, 1961 (Act
81) a person shall be deemed to have contravened the provisions of this Decree
if – <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(a) he refuses or fails to recognise
the relationship referred to in paragraph 2 of this Decree or refuses or fails
to pay such allegiance as flows from the existence of such relationship; <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(b) without reasonable excuse (the
proof of which shall be on him) he fails to attend meetings of the Traditional
Council; <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:1.0in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(c) he refuses or fails without
reasonable excuse (the proof of which shall be on him) to answer to the call of
his customary overlord to come and perform customary functions.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>