<p class="mb-5" id="contentDlCitation" hidden>[1994]DLSC5197</p> <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" ><span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";color:#00B0F0">ABABIO<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";color:#00B0F0">AKWASI III<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%; border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in; mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">[1994 - 95] 2 G B R 774 – 783 S C DATE: 15 NOVEMBER 1994<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">T TOTOE FOR THE APPELLANTS.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;border:none; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">W A N ADUMUA-BOSSMAN FOR THE RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">CORAM:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;border:none; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">FRANCOIS JSC, AMUA-SEKYI JSC, AIKINS JSC, HAYFRON-BENJAMIN JSC, AMPIAH JSC<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">AIKINS JSC. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The cause of action resulting in this appeal arose through the swearing of the Great Oath of Ashanti by the plaintiff-respondent followed by a counter-swearing of the Great Oath by the defendant-appellant. The plaintiff swore that “he never forced defendant Nana Kwadwo Adane Ababio to swear an oath of allegiance to him but rather it was the laid down customary practice for the Aburasohene to swear an oath of allegiance to Anyinase stool.” To this the defendant “responded and averred that the plaintiff forced him to swear the oath of allegiance to the plaintiff and that his stool swears the oath of allegiance to the Golden Stool direct.” The agreed oaths as exchanged by the parties were recorded and read to the trial tribunal before evidence was adduced.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The trial tribunal, the judicial committee of the Kumasi Traditional Council, dismissed the claim of the plaintiff and gave judgment for the defendant. This judgment was confirmed by the judicial committee of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs, but the judgment of the regional house was overturned by the judicial committee of the National House of Chiefs. It is against this judgment that the defendant-appellant has appealed to this court.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The plaintiff began his testimony with the history of his stool from 1945. He said the first Anyinasehene was Nana Akyeampong Akwasi II in 1945, during the reign of the defendant’s predecessor, Opanin Aboagye. According to the plaintiff Opanyin Aboagye was the Akwamuhene of the Anyinsase stool, and was succeeded by Opanyin Aboagye II. He further said that in 1952 when he, the plaintiff ascended the stool and swore the oath of allegiance to Asantehene Nana Prempeh II, the defendant’s predecessor Opanyin Aboagye II swore before the plaintiff as an elder of Anyinase stool. It was when Nana Aboagye II became blind that defendant was installed to act for him at the behest of Nana Aboagye II, and that since then the defendant had been his Akwamuhene, ie for the past fifteen years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The defendant on the other hand traced his history long before 1896. He said that his ancestors migrated from Kokofo Adweso to Aburaso during the reign of Asantehene Osei Tutu. On arrival his ancestors settled with Nana Anyinasehene for a brief period and left and founded their own settlement near a pond with the blessing of both Anyinasehene and the Asantehene. The name Aburaso was a derivative of pond (bura). He said the first chief of Aburaso was Nana Nyanten Kwabena who was later succeeded by Nana Oko, both of whom took the oath of allegiance before the Anyinasehene. Therefore Nana Kojo Adanee I became Aburasohene. History had it that Nana Kojo Adanee I attacked and killed one Kwasi Kasa who had led a rebellion against Nana Prempeh I, and by that feat of valour Nana Adanee I was elevated by Nana Prempeh I to the status of Obrempong of Asantehene on the recommendation of Asantehemaa Nana Yaa Akyaa I. As a result of his elevation Nana Adanee I took the oath of allegiance before Nana Prempeh I. From that time Aburasohene became a member of the Kumasi Traditional Council.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">On the death of Nana Adanee I in 1900 he was succeeded by Nana Aboagye. As Otumfuo had then been exiled Nana Aboagye was allowed to take the oath of allegiance before the seven chiefs of Kumasi appointed to deputise for Otumfuo. At that time, ie, in 1923, the Akwamuhene of Anyinase stool was Opanin Kwabena Atta, as evidenced by exhibit 1 (list of chiefs, and headmen of towns and villages in the Gold Coast Colony, Ashanti and Northern Territories, Kumasi District). In this list Nana Aboagye is recorded as Aburaso Odikro. The defendant said that after the restoration of the Asante confederacy on January 31 and l February 1935, his predecessor Nana Kojo Aboagye was among the chiefs who took the oath of allegiance before Otumfuo Osei Agyeman Prempeh I as evidenced by exhibit 4. He is designated on the list as Oyoko Aburaso, whereas the Anyinasehene Akyeampong Akwasi is designated as Oyoko Anyinase. On 29 August 1939 Otumfuo Agyeman Prempeh II had occasion to broadcast a message on Kumasi affairs to the general public from the Kumasi studio, and two days later, ie, 31 August, Otumfuo circulated copies of the message to all chiefs in the Kumasi traditional area for the information of their subjects. The defendant says that his predecessor Nana Kojo Aboagye was one of the chiefs to whom Otumfuo’s letter was addressed, and he tendered as exhibit 5 a copy of the said letter reference No 547-125-29 dated 31 August 1939 and signed by Otumfuo Sir Agyeman Permpeh II.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The defendant states that on the death of Nana Aboagye in 1946 he was succeeded by Nana Aboagye II, but instead of Nana swearing the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene, he was compelled by the Anyinasehene Nana Akyeampong Akwasi III to take the oath of allegiance before him which was done. This resulted in a dispute between the Anyinasehene and Nana Aboagye II. The dispute was referred to Otumfuo Osei Agyeman Permpeh II for settlement. It related to the act of Anyinasehene preventing the Aburasohene from swearing the oath of allegiance to the Asantehene, and the petition was titled: Complaint against Anyinasehene of Kumasi to show cause for preventing Chief Kojo Aboagye II from taking the oath of allegiance before Otumfuo-Asantehene and Kumasi Chiefs. A copy of this petition was tendered in evidence as exhibit 6.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">According to the defendant, the issue could not be resolved until the death of Nana Adwene, Anyinasehene. He says when he succeeded Nana Aboagye II and was being installed as a chief some members of his own family, notably PW2, Madam Akua Tiwaa, protested against his installation, and to avoid any unnecessary delay and dispute the plaintiff entreated him to take the oath of allegiance before him (the plaintiff) first before being taken to Otumfuo to take the final oath of allegiance. The defendant says that he accepted this offer, but when later he requested to be taken to Otumfuo for the swearing ceremony the plaintiff refused. As a result the defendant petitioned Otumfuo again on 13 July 1985 as per exhibit 7. On 24 March 1988 the plaintiff commented on this petition and addressed his comments to the registrar of the Kumasi Traditional Council - vide exhibit 8. The matter is yet to be resolved.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The main issues joined between the parties are:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">(1) Whether the plaintiff forced the defendant to swear the oath of allegiance to him;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" s</main>
