INTERIM EXECUTIVE COUNCIL vs. INTERIM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE APOSTOLIC DIVINE CHURCH OF GHANA [1985]DLCA928

INTERIM EXECUTIVE COUNCIL vs. INTERIM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE APOSTOLIC DIV... [1985]DLCA928

Date	1985-04-25
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1985]DLCA928

FRANCOIS JSC

MENSA BOISON JA

OSEI-HWERE JA

ATA FOR THE APPELLANTS.

NO APPEARANCE FOR THE RESPONDENTS.

[1985]DLCA928
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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INTERIM EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
<o:p></o:p>

{COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA} <o:p></o:p>

[1984-86] 1 GLR 529<o:p></o:p>

DATE:
25 APRIL 1985<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;
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ATA FOR THE APPELLANTS. <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;
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FRANCOIS JSC, MENSA BOISON AND OSEI-HWERE JJA<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF FRANCOIS JSC<o:p></o:p>By a writ
dated 30 January 1984 a body styling itself the “Interim Executive Committee of
the Apostolic Church of Ghana” instituted proceedings against the appellants
for the reliefs set down below, namely:<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) A
declaration that the purported revocation or dissolution or both of the interim
executive committee is null and void and of no effect. (b) A declaration that
the convening of the emergency delegates’ conference at Takrowase on 7 August
1982 was unauthorised, illegal, unconstitutional and at variance with the
provisions of the resolution passed and adopted at the emergency delegates’
conference held at Takrowase on 19 April 1980 and is null and void and of no
effect. (c) A declaration that the resolution passed at the said emergency
delegates’ conference by the defendants had no authority, jurisdiction or
mandate of the interim executive committee then the ruling church council and
is null and void and of no effect. (d) An order prohibiting the defendants from
exercising any powers, functions, deeds, acts or authority of whatsoever kind
conferred on the interim executive committee by the emergency delegates’
conference of 19 April 1980.<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">&nbsp;(e) An order removing the defendants from
office for grave and serious violation of the constituted authority of the
church to wit, the interim executive committee. (f) An order to declare null
and void and of no effect any acts, deeds, letters, appointments, transfers and
removals that the defendants had carried out since usurping the power of the
plaintiffs’ committee.<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">(g) Any
further order or orders or other reliefs.”<o:p></o:p>By notice
of motion dated 23 February 1984 an injunction was sought to restrain the appellants:<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">“from
carrying out any functions or undertaking or both to administer and manage the
affairs of the Apostolic Divine Church and or usurping the rights and functions
of the plaintiffs’ committee, the supreme governing body of the Apostolic
Divine Church.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It was
the case of the respondents that they had been duly elected by an emergency
delegates conference of the Apostolic Divine Church on 19 April 1980 to
discharge the duties and functions previously carried out by the church’s
officers while a controversy within the church was being resolved.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The facts
as can be gathered from the pleadings and affidavits filed suggest a deep rift
between two sections of the church, each vying with the other to control the
church. The internal dissensions had even made it impossible for members to
agree on the current rules and constitution of the church.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>There is
no doubt that the church on 19 April 1980 elected certain officials to run its
affairs. That body was designated “The Interim Executive Committee of the
Apostolic Divine Church of Ghana.” The appellants say that body is not the
respondents. Since the </main>