ANSU-AGYEI AND OTHERS vs. FIMAH AND OTHERS [1994]DLSC705

Date	1994-07-26
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1994]DLSC705

FRANCOIS JSC

AMUA-SEKYI JSC

AIKINS JSC

HAYFRON-BENJAMIN JSC

AMPIAH JSC

JAMES AHENKORAH FOR THE APPELLANTS.

ANTHONY NORVOR (HOLDING BRIEF FOR E D KOM) FOR THE RESPONDENTS.

[1994]DLSC705
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">ANSU-AGYEI AND OTHERS<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
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mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">FIMAH AND OTHERS<o:p></o:p>[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[1993-94] 1 GLR 299<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>JAMES AHENKORAH FOR THE APPELLANTS.<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">

ANTHONY NORVOR (HOLDING BRIEF FOR E D KOM) FOR THE RESPONDENTS. <o:p></o:p>

FRANCOIS, AMUA-SEKYI, AIKINS, HAYFRON-BENJAMIN AND AMPIAH JJSC<o:p></o:p>

</div>JUDGMENT OF AMPIAH JSC<o:p></o:p>Delivered the judgment of the court. This is an appeal from the
decision of the chieftaincy tribunal of the National House of Chiefs.<o:p></o:p>The petitioners in this matter instituted chieftaincy proceedings against
the respondents at the chieftaincy tribunal of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House
of Chiefs. The respondents raised a preliminary objection against the tribunal
on the ground that that tribunal was incompetent to entertain the action since
the matter did not involve a paramount stool or an occupant of a paramount
stool. The tribunal overruled the objection and insisted on hearing the matter.
Whereupon the respondents appealed against the ruling to the chieftaincy
tribunal of the National House of Chiefs. The National House of Chiefs’
tribunal upheld the appeal but ruled that it had jurisdiction itself to
exercise original jurisdiction in the matter. It relied on section 23(3) of the
Chieftaincy (National and Regional Houses of Chiefs) Procedure Rules, 1972 (CI
27) and also article 179(5) of the Constitution, 1979 which was the relevant
law at the time. The respondents have appealed against that ruling.<o:p></o:p>The reliefs sought in the chieftaincy tribunal of the Brong Ahafo
Regional House of Chiefs were:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(i).&nbsp;&nbsp; “A declaration that the
nomination, election and installation of Ansu-Agyei (the first respondent
herein) as krontihene of Wamfie in the Dormaa Traditional Area by the second,
third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth respondents is null and void
and of no effect as same is contrary to the custom and usage of the Dormaa
Traditional Area. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(ii). A declaration that the
decision of the ninth respondent herein, as evidenced in letters dated 23 and
24 August 1982, not to allow Nana Peprah, the duly nominated, elected and
installed chief of Wamfie to swear the oath of allegiance to the Dormaa
Traditional Council was null and void as same was contrary to Dormaa customary
law and usage. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(iii).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
A declaration that the respondents herein are bound by the
decision and/or recommendation of the reconciliation committee of the
Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs in the matter of Nana Abena Fimah and
Others v Nana Kwesi Owusu and Others dated 29 June 1982 and that the first
respondent herein not being a member of the Amma Kuma royal house of Wamfie,
his purported nomination and election by the respondents herein is null and
void and of no effect. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(iv).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
An order of the judicial committee to nullify the said nomination,
election and installation of Ansu-Agyei (the first respondent) as krontihene of
Wamfie in the Dormaa Traditional Area. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;mso-add-space:auto;
text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(v).