REPUBLIC vs. GHANA NATIONAL MUSEUM BOARD; EX PARTE NUNOO [1979]DLHC1108

Date	1979-06-22
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1979]DLHC1108

MENSAH BOISON J.

E. K. AMANE FOR THE APPLICANT.

MRS. ADUSA-AMANKWAA PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE RESPONDENTS.

[1979]DLHC1108
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >REPUBLIC <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>GHANA NATIONAL MUSEUM BOARD; EX PARTE NUNOO<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, 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; [1978] GLR 377<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:
22 JUNE 1979<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>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. K. AMANE FOR THE APPLICANT.<o:p></o:p>

MRS. ADUSA-AMANKWAA, PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY, 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 1.0pt 0in">

MENSAH BOISON J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF MENSA BOISON J.<o:p></o:p>The
applicant by counsel moves for an order of certiorari to quash a decision
dismissing the applicant from the employment of the respondents, the Ghana
National Museum Board (to be referred to simply as the board). The said decision
was contained in a letter dated 13 September 1978, of which a copy is exhibited
as D.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>By his
affidavit, the applicant was employed as a custodian superintendent by the
board in June 1973, on terms and conditions as expressed in exhibit I, which is,
as deposed in the respondents’ last affidavit, a true copy of the original
letter of appointment. In 1975, the post of custodian superintendent was, on
the unopposed affidavit to the applicant, upgraded from a category D post to C.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Now it
appears that some time in October 1976, a flagrant burglary occurred at the
headquarters of the board in Accra, where the applicant was stationed. Some
losses of museum pieces must have been sustained, but the burglars were never
traced nor apprehended. In May 1977, the board instituted an internal committee
of inquiry, before which the applicant gave an account of his schedule of work
with regard to the security measures in operation. Without further query or
proceedings the applicant was served with notice of termination of appointment
on 13 September 1978, to take effect in three months’ time. The said notice is
exhibited as D.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It is the
ground of the applicant that: (a) the order of dismissal is illegal as being
contrary to the Civil Service (Interim) Regulations, 1960 (L.I. 47); and (b)
the applicant being a civil servant cannot be dismissed without the board’s
compliance with rules and procedure regulating the dismissal of civil servants.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>While the
respondents do not substantially controvert the facts, it is their stand that,
as an employee of the board, the applicant was not a civil servant.
Consequently the board was not obliged to proceed under LI 47; and in any case
the board was never divested of its common law right as an employer to
terminate the applicant’s engagement upon giving reasonable notice.<o:p></o:p>The
letter of appointment, exhibit I, is important and it is set out in extenso
below:<o:p></o:p>“Dear Sir, <o:p></o:p>APPOINTMENT TO THE POST OF CUSTODIAN SUPERINTENDENT<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(1) With reference to your letter dated 20
February 1973 and the subsequent interview granted you on 27 April 1973, you
are hereby offered appointment as custodian superintendent in this institution
subject to your medical fitness, on a salary scale of ¢1,092 X 48-¢1,284 per
annum with effect from 1 June 1973. You will be placed at the ¢1,092 per annum
p</main>