THE REPUBLIC vs. MICHAEL CONDUAH EX-PARTE: SUPI GEORGE ASMAH [2011]DLCA7958

Date	2011-10-07
Suit No.	SUIT NO.H1/60/2011
Citation No.	[2011]DLCA7958

MARFUL-SAU JA –PRESIDING

HONYENUGA JA

DENNIS ADJEI JA

[2011]DLCA7958
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p>MICHAEL
CONDUAH<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>EX-PARTE: SUPI
GEORGE ASMAH<o:p></o:p>(APPLICANT/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>[COURT
OF APPEAL, CAPE COAST]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

SUIT
NO.H1/60/2011&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;DATE:
7TH DECEMBER, 2011<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:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

MARFUL-SAU
JA –PRESIDING, HONYENUGA JA, DENNIS ADJEI JA<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

</div>DENNIS
ADJEI: This appeal is against the decision of the
High Court; Cape Coast delivered on 26th October, 2010.&nbsp; The brief facts of the case are that on 27th
June, 2001, the High Court Cape Coast made an order compelling the parties
herein to meet with the representatives from the Elmina Traditional Council to
draw up a programme of action to enable the people of Elmina to celebrate their
festival with dignity, pomp and style.&nbsp;
The Court further granted an Order of Interlocutory Injunction
restraining the Respondent herein from exercising all public functions as the
Chief of Elimina until his status as Omanhene (Paramount Chief of Elmina) has
been fully and finally determined by the appropriate forum on 15th
July, 2002.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The Respondent herein was committed for contempt for
breaching the Order restraining him from performing any public function as
Omanhene until his status as Omanhene had been fully and finally determined.&nbsp; The Respondent was ordered by the High Court
to:<o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;File and serve an undertaking not to perform
any public function as Omanhene until his status has been fully and finally
determined<o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
To pay a fine of GH¢500.00
and was further ordered to pay cost of GH¢200.00 to the Applicant.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The Respondent appealed against the decision committing
him for contempt on 15th July, 2002.&nbsp;
He filed an application to the High Court differently constituted to
stay the execution of the Order committing him for contempt.&nbsp; The High Court on 31st July, 2001
stayed the execution of the Order until the final determination of the appeal. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On 30th April, 2010, the High Court Cape Coast
differently constituted again convicted the Respondent herein and 3 other
persons for contempt for treating with contempt the Order of the High Court
dated 27th June, 2001.&nbsp; In
that suit, the Respondent herein permitted one Nana Conduah to swear to him in
his capacity as the Omanhene of Elmina.&nbsp;
The thrust of the contempt application which has generated this appeal
is that in spite of the Order of the High Court dated 27th June,
2001 restraining the Respondent from parading himself as the Omanhene of Elmina
until that position is resolved, on 6th July, 2010 the Respondent
rode in palanquin and performed public functions as the Omanhene of Edina
Elmina Traditional Area.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The High Court dismissed the application for contempt on
the grounds that the Order which the Respondent was said to have violated was a
nullity as it was made by the High Court which lacks jurisdiction in cause or
matters affecting chieftaincy.&nbsp; The
Appellant dissatisfied with the judgment appealed against it to this court.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The Appellant filed one ground of appeal.&nbsp; It is as follows:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>