REPUBLIC vs. ANLO TRADITIONAL COUNCIL; EX PARTE HOR II [1978]DLCA1174

Date	1978-05-12
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1978]DLCA1174

JIAGGE JA

KINGSLEY-NYINAH JA

EDUSEI J.A.

DR. OBED ASAMOAH (NUTSUGAH WITH HIM) FOR THE APPELLANTS.

B. J. DA ROCHA (TSEGAH WITH HIM) FOR THE RESPONDENTS.

[1978]DLCA1174
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >REPUBLIC <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>ANLO TRADITIONAL COUNCIL; EX PARTE HOR II<o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[1979] GLR 234<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:
12 MAY 1978<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">

DR. OBED ASAMOAH (NUTSUGAH WITH HIM) FOR THE
APPELLANTS.<o:p></o:p>

B. J. DA ROCHA (TSEGAH WITH HIM) 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 windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

JIAGGE, KINGSLEY-NYINAH AND EDUSEI,
JJ.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT JIAGGE J.A.<o:p></o:p>By an
originating summons issued at the instance of Michael Fini and two others
against Togbe Hor II, Fiaga of Agbosome and two others, the plaintiffs claimed
before the judicial committee of the Anlo Traditional Council that by custom
and tradition their family was the “proper” one to select and install the<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">“dufia”
of Adafienu; that the said family nominated one Jacob Komlavi Tormety as the
successor in title of the late Chief Dovo II of Adafienu, that the nomination
was subsequently approved by the three wing chiefs of Somey and that the
customary installation fees were also paid. However, the first defendant had
for six years “persistently conspired with the other defendants to make the
installation impossible to be performed.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
defendants in their statement of defence averred that “Togbe Tsri Dapensu II,
the senior stool father and dufia of Adafienu and his elders are by custom and
tradition the proper persons to select and install the divisional chief or
dufia of Adafienu” and further that “the late Togbe Dovo II was a “war chief’
or “awafia” and not the divisional chief of Adafienu. The defendants averred
that the “plaintiffs made abortive attempts to coerce them to install Jacob
Komiavi Tormety as the divisional chief of Adafienu contrary to custom and
tradition.” The first defendant, Togbe Hor II, also averred that “he is the
paramount chief of the Somey people and that the judicial committee of the Anlo
Traditional Council has no jurisdiction over him” and further that the matter
did not arise within the area of the Anlo Traditional Council.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In an ex
parte application for leave to issue an order for prohibition, counsel on
behalf of Togbe Hor II contended that the Anlo Traditional Council had no
jurisdiction over the matter in question and that the proper forum was the
Volta Regional House of Chiefs because his client was a paramount chief.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The court
in granting leave observed, “The most controversial issue . . . is whether he
(the applicant) is a paramount chief or divisional chief. If the applicant is a
paramount chief, then the contention by him may be sustained; if not the
application may fail.” The court after directing service on the respondents to
the motion ordered a stay of the proceedings before the judicial committee of
the Anlo Traditional Council until disposition of this application.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In an
affidavit in opposition sworn to by Francis Awuku, the registrar of the Anlo
Traditional Council on behalf of the said council, he averred:<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">“That the
Anlo Traditional Area over which the Anlo Traditional Council has jurisdiction
in constitutional matters includes Somey... That except for a brief period of
about four years (1962-66) . . . Somey has always been subject to the
jurisdiction of the Anlo Traditional Council.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>And
finall</main>