REPUBLIC vs. GREATER ACCRA REGIONAL COMMISSIONER; EX PARTE NAAWU III [1976]DLHC432

Date	1976-03-17
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1976]DLHC432

TAYLOR J.

P. A. ADJETEY FOR THE APPLICANT.

J. E. K. APPIAH STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1976]DLHC432
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;vs. <o:p></o:p>GREATER ACCRA REGIONAL COMMISSIONER; EX PARTE NAAWU III<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH
COURT]<o:p></o:p>[1976] 2 GLR 25<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:
17 MARCH 1976.<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">

P. A. ADJETEY FOR THE APPLICANT.<o:p></o:p>

J. E. K. APPIAH, STATE ATTORNEY, 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">

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

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF TAYLOR J.<o:p></o:p>Yesterday
I heard arguments in this case and because it involves the liberty of the
subject, I adjourned for a ruling this morning in order that the matter be
dealt with expeditiously. On 5 March 1976, the applicant herein by his
solicitor filed an application for habeas corpus under the provisions of the
Habeas Corpus Act, 1964 (Act 244). The application was ex parte and it came
before me on 9 March 1976. On that day having heard counsel for the applicant
and having read the motion paper and supporting affidavit, I made an order
directed at the Regional Commissioner to produce the body of the applicant on
12 March 1976 and also to submit a report in writing stating the grounds of the
detention of the applicant. I made this order in compliance with the provisions
of section 2 of the Habeas Corpus Act, 1964 (Act 244), which is 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">“2. The
High Court or the Judge thereof to whom an application is made under section 1
of this Act shall immediately enquire into the allegation of unlawful detention
and may make an order requiring the person in whose custody the applicant (or
the person on whose behalf the application is made) is detained, <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) to
produce the body of the person so detained before the High Court on a day
specified in the order, and <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) to submit
a report in writing stating the grounds of the detention.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>I also
ordered that the Regional Commissioner be served with a copy of the motion
paper and supporting affidavit, so that he would be informed of the complaint
of the applicant to enable him to formulate the grounds of detention in his
report.<o:p></o:p>The order
of the court was duly served and on 12 March 1976, in obedience to the order,
the Regional Commissioner did produce the applicant in court. I regret to have
to say that the order of the court asking for a report was completely ignored.
I do not know whether this was on advice but the Regional Commissioner was
represented by Mr. J.E.K. Appiah, State Attorney, and so I drew his attention
to the desirability of having a report in writing as is provided for in section
2 of Act 244.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>I was
anxious to give the Regional Commissioner an opportunity of justifying the
detention for section 4(1) of the Habeas Corpus Act, 1964, provides 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">“The High
Court shall, upon the body of the person detained being produced before it and
after giving the person in whose custody he is detained an opportunity of
justifying the detention, order the release of the person detained unless
satisfied that the detention is in accordance with law.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>(The
emphasis is mine.)<o:p></o:p>This
application is simple and straightforward, and the circumstances leading up to
the application are contained in a short affidavit filed on behalf of the
applicant by a cousin of his. The whole affidavit in four paragraphs is as
follows:<o:p></o:p>