REPUBLIC vs. KWAHU TRADITIONAL COUNCIL; EX PARTE NANA OBENG AKROFI [1974]DLHC2326

Date	1974-07-02
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1974]DLHC2326

QUASHIE-SAM J.

E. OKYERE-DARKOH FOR THE APPLICANT.

F. E. OBENG FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1974]DLHC2326
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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:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">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:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">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:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">KWAHU TRADITIONAL COUNCIL; EX PARTE NANA OBENG AKROFI<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH COURT, KOFORIDUA]<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;[1974] 2 GLR 144<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:
2 JULY 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 windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

E.
OKYERE-DARKOH FOR THE APPLICANT.<o:p></o:p>

F. E.
OBENG 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">

QUASHIE-SAM J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF QUASHIE-SAM J.<o:p></o:p>This
application is for an order of certiorari to quash the decision of the Kwahu
Traditional Council at its meeting of 23 October 1972 and 24 October 1972. The
application originated in the High Court, Accra, on 9 April 1973 and was
subsequently transferred to this court by the order of the Chief Justice on 31
May 1973 for determination.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In the
minutes of 23 and 24 October 1972 meetings of the Kwahu Traditional Council which
gave rise to the order complained of are recorded, under the heading of Tease
Chieftaincy Affairs, as follows:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:39.35pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“Tease Chieftaincy Affairs<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:39.35pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:3.35pt;mso-pagination:none;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">In a letter dated 21 July 1972,
addressed to the secretary Kwahu Traditional Council by Nana Kwabena Boateng,
Odikro of Pitiko and four of his elders, namely, Opanin Kwaku Tiefu,
Krontihene, Opanin Kwasi Atta, Kyidomhene, Opanin Kofi Karikari, Gyasehene and
Opanin Kwame Ampadu, Okyeame, they stated as follows:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:39.35pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(a) That on or about 9 June 1972, a
petition made by him and his elders reporting the destoolment of Nana Kwadwo
Kwakye, Odikro of Tease was rejected by the Kwahu Traditional Council on the
grounds that it was irregular and against Kwahu custom because the alleged
destoolment was done over and above the head of the Tease elders, the only
competent body. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:39.35pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(b) That at the time of the alleged
destoolment the stool paraphernalia comprising, two umbrellas, two golden head
gears, one gold bangle, one talisman head gear, one drum (nkawiri), and one
gong-gong were taken over from him by me and some Tease elders and handed over
to Yaw Obeng the prospective candidate. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:39.35pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(c) That irrespective of the ‘judgment’
delivered by the Kwahu Traditional Council as stated in para. (a) above,
arrangements were afoot to enstool Opanin Yaw Obeng. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:39.35pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(d) That at the time the new chief,
Opanin Yaw Obeng, was about to be enstooled, Opanin Opoku Minta, the
Abusuapanin of Pitiko and Tease swore the great oath that the destoolment of
Nana Kwadwo Kwakye was unconstitutional and contrary to Kwahu custom and of no
effect, and the nomination, election and installation of the said Yaw Obeng was
improper and contrary to Kwahu custom and was also of no effect. He went to the
length to say that the said Yaw Obeng was not a member of the Tease royal
family. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:39.35pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(e) That by the permission of the
Omanhene, the oath case was adjudicated by the Kyidomhene of Kwahu and his
elders at Pepease, and their verdict was in favour of Opanin Opoku Minta.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>