REPUBLIC vs. HIGH COURT, SUNYANI; EX PARTE PETELLI ROYAL FAMILY [2005]DLCA1025

Date	2005-03-11
Suit No.
Citation No.	[2005]DLCA1025

ADINYIRA JA

ASIAMAH JA

KUSI-APPIAH JA

KWAKU GYAN FOR THE APPELLANT.

W Y OPPONG FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[2005]DLCA1025
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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">REPUBLIC<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;;
color:#00B0F0">vs.<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;;
color:#00B0F0">HIGH COURT, SUNYANI; EX PARTE PETELLI ROYAL FAMILY<o:p></o:p>[COURT
OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[2003-2005]
1 GLR 381<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">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:right;
mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">Date: 11 March 2005<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>KWAKU
GYAN FOR THE APPELLANT.<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">

W Y
OPPONG FOR THE RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

ADINYIRA,
ASIAMAH AND KUSI-APPIAH JJA<o:p></o:p>

</div>JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>Asiamah JA.
This is an appeal against the ruling of the High Court, Sunyani in which the
court purported to order the registrar of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of
Chiefs to cause the name of the applicant-respondent (hereinafter referred to
as the respondent), Osabarima Okokyeredom Kwadwo Sito I, to be recorded in the
register of chiefs in the region.<o:p></o:p>The
trial High Court in a rather oblique statement seemed to have granted the
application for an order of mandamus directed to the registrar of the Brong
Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs to enrol the respondent in this appeal in the
register of accredited chiefs in the region. And this is how the court couched
its verdict:<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;“The courts have always formed an opinion that
litigation must end and we must be seen to be promoting that . . . Should there
be a squabble between the Kralongos and the Petellis anytime the chief of Banda
dies ... It is for this reason that I grant the applicant’s prayer and issued
the writ of mandamus. The registrar of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs
will be compelled by the writ of mandamus to put in motion the process that
will lead to the applicant, Osabarima Okokyeredom Kwadom Kwadwo Sito I, being
admitted into the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs in his capacity. Costs,
of ¢2 million awarded against the regional house of chiefs, and the interested
parties. Each to pay ¢1 million.”<o:p></o:p>(The
emphasis is mine.)<o:p></o:p>It
is this verdict of the court below which the appellant has appealed against.
The notice of appeal contained only two grounds and it reads; “(a) the ruling
is against the weight of affidavit evidence presented to the court; and (b) the
costs of ¢2 million awarded against the appellant is excessive. (Further
grounds will be filed on receipt of a certified true copy of the ruling.)”
Subsequently, pursuant to leave granted by this court differently constituted,
the appellant was granted leave to file additional grounds of appeal by
incorporating into the original grounds the following three grounds:<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">“(1)
The ruling of the High Court, Sunyani, dated 18 July 2002 is null, void and of
no effect because the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs was not properly or
legally represented in the proceedings. <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">(2)
The applicant was not registered in the National House of Chiefs as the
Omanhene of the Banda Traditional Area. He was therefore not qualified for
membership of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs. <o:p></o:p>