REPUBLIC vs. EKUMFI TRADITIONAL COUNCIL AND ANOTHER; EX PARTE OKAE AND ANOTHER [1974]DLHC2321

Date	1974-05-10
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1974]DLHC2321

EDWARD WIREDU J.

AMPIAH FOR THE APPLICANT.

SACKEYFIO FOR THE RESPONDENTS.

[1974]DLHC2321
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">REPUBLIC <o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">vs.<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">EKUMFI TRADITIONAL COUNCIL AND ANOTHER; EX PARTE OKAE AND
ANOTHER <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, CAPE COAST]<o:p></o:p>[1974] 1 GLR 412<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.5pt;
padding:31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">

DATE:<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0"> 10 MAY 1974.<o:p></o:p>

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

<a name="_gjdgxs"></a>AMPIAH FOR THE APPLICANT.<o:p></o:p>

SACKEYFIO
FOR THE RESPONDENTS.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM: <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

EDWARD WIREDU J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF EDWARD WIREDU J.<o:p></o:p>On 23
July 1973, the respondents to this application initiated proceedings against
the first applicant herein before the judicial committee of the Ekumfi
Traditional Council. The summons issued against the applicant under the Second
Schedule to the Chieftaincy (Proceedings and Functions) (Traditional Councils)
Regulations, 1972 (L.I. 798), was in the following form:<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">“The
plaintiff ‘s claim is for the defendant to show cause why you Kwa Okae of
Ebiradzi family have deliberately and intentionally separated the Ebiradzi
family of Otuam into two separate bodies by installing another head of family
by name Mr. Dadzie against the accredited head of family of Ebiradzi-Otuam, by
name Kwesi Buabeng which action is contrary to our native custom.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The return
day to the summons was 9 August 1973 and the certificate of service proved by
the serving bailiff shows that the first applicant was served on 25 July 1973.
On 2 August 1973, one Nana Kwame Ano II the second applicant herein, claiming
to be the ebusuapanyin of the Ebiradzi family of Otuam and whose alleged
nomination as such head was being challenged by the respondents in the court
below filed an affidavit challenging the capacity of the respondents to
maintain their action against the first applicant and by paragraph (6) of the
said affidavit deposed 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">&nbsp;“(6) Section 15 of the Chieftaincy Act, 1971,
states that:’ . . . a Traditional Council shall have exclusive jurisdiction to
hear and determine any cause or matter affecting chieftaincy.’ I will draw to
the attention of the judicial committee of Ekumfi Traditional Council that the
case at issue is not a chieftaincy dispute, but a family dispute which does not
come under the Chieftaincy Act.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
second applicant was himself not a party to the suit before the judicial
committee and there was no record that he applied to be joined as a party.
There are also no notes in the record as to what happened to his application
but the record is, however, clear that neither the first applicant nor the
second applicant ever appeared before the committee to move the said
application. The record of proceedings further shows that on 11 December 1973
the committee heard evidence from the respondents and their witnesses and
entered a default judgment against the first applicant.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It is
from the said proceedings that the present applications for certiorari and
prohibition have been brought by the applicants praying that:<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) The
whole judgment and order be brought to this court to be quashed;<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">(b) The
judicial committee to be prohibited from recognising Kwesi Buabeng as the head
and to be restrained from dealing with Kwesi Buabeng in that capacity.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The main
grievances of the second applicant as set out in paragraph (6) of his
supporting affidavit is: “That by this</main>