IN RE YENDI SKIN AFFAIRS; YAKUBU II vs. ABUDULAI (NO. 2) [1986]DLSC926

Date	1986-12-17
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1986]DLSC926

SOWAH CJ

ADADE JSC

TAYLOR JSC

FRANCOIS JSC

OSEI-HWERE JA

AMUA-SEKYI JA

AMPIAH JJA

NANA OTOAMFOM BEKOE (PETER ADJETEY) (WITH HIM IBRAHIM

MAHAMA) FOR THE APPELLANT.

E. O. APPIAH FOR THE RESPONDENT

[1986]DLSC926
																																						<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" ><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

IN RE YENDI SKIN AFFAIRS;
YAKUBU II <o:p></o:p>

{SUPREME COURT, ACCRA} <o:p></o:p>

[1984-86] 2 GLR 239<o:p></o:p>

DATE:
17 DECEMBER 1986<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">

NANA OTOAMFOM BEKOE (PETER ADJETEY) (WITH HIM
IBRAHIM <o:p></o:p>

E. O. APPIAH 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">

SOWAH CJ, ADADE, TAYLOR AND FRANCOIS JJSC, OSEI-HWERE, AMUA-SEKYI
AND AMPIAH JJA<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF SOWAH C.J.<o:p></o:p>Sowah
C.J. delivered the judgment of himself, Taylor and Francois JJSC and of
Osei-Hwere, Amua-Sekyi and Ampiah JJA. This is an appeal from the decision of
the Court of Appeal (see In re Yendi Skin Affairs; Abudulai v Yakubu II
[1984-86] 2 GLR 189, CA) which set aside all the findings and recommendations
of the Yendi Skin Affairs Committee established under the Yendi Skin Affairs
Committee of Inquiry Instrument, 1972 (EI 74 of 1972), and the white paper on
those recommendations accepted by government. The membership of the committee
comprised: the Hon Mr Justice Nii Amaa Ollennu, Chairman; Nana Sir Tsibu Darko
X, member; Nana Atakora Amaniampong II, member; and Togbe Adja Tekpor VI,
member.<o:p></o:p>The terms
of reference of the committee were 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">(a) To
ascertain the correct custom and customary procedure for the nomination,
selection and enskinment of a Ya-Na including the correct list of candidates;<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
inquire into the circumstances leading to the enactment of the Declaration of
Customary Law (Dagomba State) Order, 1960 (L.I. 59), and its subsequent
revocation and the advisability or otherwise of its reinstatement;<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) Having
regard to sub-paragraph (b) of this paragraph to inquire whether or not the
purported deskinment of Ya-Na Andani III was justifiable;<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) to
inquire whether or not the method adopted in declaring and enskinning Mahamadu
Abudulai as Ya-Na after the acceptance of the recommendations of the Mate Kole
Committee Report was in conformity with Dagomba custom, bearing in mind
sub-paragraph (a);<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">(e) To
inquire into and examine the competing claims to the Yendi skin and make
recommendations thereon between the Andani and Abudulai families; 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">(f) Any
other matter that appears to the committee to be reasonably connected with the
foregoing matters . . .”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>At the
end of an exhaustive inquiry manifested by the number of witnesses called, the
proceedings and research into the Dagomba Constitution and the law governing
the matter, it made the following findings:<o:p></o:p>(1)
Selection of a Ya-Na is made by four elders of Dagomba, who are the traditional
kingmakers; these are, (i) Kuga-Na, (ii) Tugurinam, (iii) Kpati-Na, and (iv) Gomli.<o:p></o:p>(2) The
customary procedure for selection of a Ya-Na is soothsaying; and<o:p></o:p>