REPUBLIC vs. THE REGISTRAR, MEDICAL AND DENTAL BOARD; EX PARTE CHRISTIAN [1973]DLCA2272

Date	1973-07-30
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1973]DLCA2272

AZU CRABBE C.J.

APALOO JA

ARCHER J.A.

MRS. BAMFORD ADDO PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNE Y FOR THE APPELLANTS.

ALHAJI KWAW SWANZY FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1973]DLCA2272
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >REPUBLIC <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>THE REGISTRAR, MEDICAL AND DENTAL BOARD; EX PARTE CHRISTIAN<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<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;[1973]
2 GLR 323<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:
30 JULY 1973.<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">

MRS. BAMFORD ADDO, PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY, FOR
THE APPELLANTS.<o:p></o:p>

ALHAJI KWAW SWANZY 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">

AZU CRABBE C.J., APALOO AND ARCHER
JJ.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF AZU CRABBE C.J.<o:p></o:p>This is
an appeal from the ruling of Griffiths—Randolph J. dated 19 April 1973 whereby
he directed an order of certiorari to issue to bring to his court the register
of medical practitioners for the purpose of quashing the decision of the
Medical and Dental Board removing and erasing the name of the respondent from
the said register.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The facts
of this case, in chronological order, are as follows: In July 1972, an inquiry
was conducted by the Medical and Dental Board into an allegation of
professional misconduct by the respondent in accordance with the provisions of
the Medical and Dental Act, 1959 (No. 36 of 1959). By virtue of section 17 (2)
of the Act, the respondent was entitled to be represented by a legal
practitioner, and the respondent attended the sittings of the board with his
solicitor, Dr. Seth Twum. At the conclusion of the evidence, the board adjourned
its proceedings for an indefinite period to consider its decision. On 1
November 1972, when the findings and decision of the board were yet to be
pronounced, Dr. Seth Twum addressed a letter to the Secretary, Medical and
Dental Board. In my view, the letter is so important in this case that I
produce it in full:<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">“D.747/4,
Kimberley Avenue, P.O. Box 197, Accra, Ghana. 1st November, 1972. Onimpa Akuoko
&amp; Co., Barristers &amp; Solicitors. Our Ref. ST/JAM. Your Ref. MDB-19/SF. 1
(a). Dear Sir, Dr. H. Ekow Christian I refer to your letter of the above
reference informing my client of the proposed resumption of the above enquiry.
I understand from my client that he has written to you to say that he is
travelling outside the country on 5th November, 1972. As the only matter left
is the giving of a ruling I hope the Board will dispense with my client’s
presence on the 10th of November and let me have a copy of your ruling as soon
as practicable after it has been delivered. Yours faithfully, <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">(Sgd.)
Dr. Seth Twum. The Secretary, Medical &amp; Dental Board, Ministry of Health,
Accra.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Accordingly,
the following letter in reply was addressed to Dr. Seth Twum from the office of
the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Board:<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">“Medical
and Dental Board, MDB—19/SF. 1 (a) P.O. Box M. 44, Accra. 6th November, 1972.
Dear Sir, Disciplinary Inquiry Involving Dr. Henry Ekow Christian, Medical
Practitionern. Reference your No. ST/JAM dated 1st November, 1972. I forward,
herewith, the Decision of the Medical and Dental Board and copies of the
Proceedings covering the six sittings. 2. Please acknowledge receipt. <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">Yours
faithfully,<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">(Sgd.)
Dr. P. M. J. PHILLIPS, <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">For
Registrar, Medical and Dental Board. Dr. Seth Twum, Onimpa Akuoko &amp; Co.,
Barristers &amp; Solicitors,</main>