REPUBLIC vs. ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND OTHERS; EX PARTE OWUSU [1981]DLHC2197

Date	1981-08-21
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1981]DLHC2197

ROGER KORSAH J.

W. A. N. ADUMUA-BOSSMAN FOR THE APPLICANT.

J. O. LINDSAY FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1981]DLHC2197
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >REPUBLIC <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND OTHERS; EX PARTE OWUSU <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[1982-83] GLR 311<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:
21 AUGUST 1981<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">

W. A. N. ADUMUA-BOSSMAN FOR THE APPLICANT. <o:p></o:p>

J. O. LINDSAY 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">

ROGER KORSAH J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF KORSAH J.<o:p></o:p>By his
motion the applicant seeks the following reliefs:<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) an
order of certiorari to bring up and quash the report of the second respondents
containing adverse findings against the applicant and recommendations for his
dismissal from the post of managing director of the Ghana National Trading
Corporation by reason of the ¢29 million watch straps affair; <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) an
order of certiorari to bring up and quash the decision of either the government
or the third respondent or both purporting to dismiss the appellant from his
post of managing director of the Ghana National Trading Corporation; 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">(c) an
order of mandamus directing the applicant’s reinstatement forthwith as managing
director of the Ghana National Trading Corporation.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The facts
leading to the interdiction of the applicant on 23 March 1981, are as stated in
the ruling in miscellaneous application No. 113/81. Before his interdiction on
23 March 1981, the chairman of the State Enterprises Commission (SEC) had
addressed the following communication to the chairman of the board of directors
of the Ghana National Trading Corporation (GNTC) with a copy to the applicant.
The letter is dated 20 March 1981:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:69.8pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“Dear Sir, PURCHASE OF METALLIC WATCH
STRAPS STATIONERY/NOVELS AND MOSQUITO NETS We write to confirm the discussions
we had with you this morning in Parliament House concerning some purchases made
by the Ghana National Trading Corporation recently. Our information is that the
corporation recently made the following purchases: Watch straps — ¢29 million
Mosquito netting — ¢2 million Novels — ¢10 million If our information is true,
then we would like to ascertain the rationale in spending about ¢40 million on
only two apparently slow moving items in a trading organisation which is
supposed to stock a variety of items. In consequence, we understand the
corporation is having difficulty in finding cash to meet other commitments. As
discussed, the commission has decided to request Mr. E. N. A. Thompson, a
member of this commission, to carry out some investigations into the purchasing
procedures and cash flows of the corporation with particular reference to the
purchasing of the above items to enable the commission to advise you and the
government. We have already informed the managing director (i.e., the
applicant) verbally of our intentions and we hope we can rely on your
co-operation.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:69.8pt;text-align:justify;text-indent:2.6pt;mso-pagination:none;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">Yours faithfully, (Sgd.) I. D.
Ewun-Tohma CHAIRMAN<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:69.8pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">cc: Managing Director, <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:69.8pt;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">GNTC, Ghana House, Accra Principal
Secretary, Ministry of Trade.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The SEC
is a statutory body set up under the State Enterprises Commission Decree, 1976
(SMCD 10). The functions of the commission are spelt out in section 4 (1) of
the Decree. They include:<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">“(d) As a
matter of urgency, undertake a thorough management audit to determine the
suitability of present incumbents of top management positions in all statutory
corporations; <o:p></</main>