THE REPUBLIC vs. MICHAEL CONDUAH EX-PARTE: SUPI GEORGE ASMAH [2013]DLSC6620

Date	2013-08-15
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL. NO J4/28/2012
Citation No.	[2013]DLSC6620

G. T. WOOD (MRS) C. J (PRESIDING)

J. V. M. DOTSE JSC

ANIN-YEBOAH JSC

A. A BENIN JSC

J. B. AKAMBA JSC

EGBERT FAIBILLE JNR. WITH AKOSUA ASAH-ASANTE FOR THE RESPONDENT/ RESPONDENT/APPELLANT

K. O. AMPONSA DADZIE AND ROLAND A. K. HAMILTON LED BY SAM AWOTWI

FOR THE APPLICANT/APPELLANT/RESPONDENT

[2013]DLSC6620
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>MICHAEL
CONDUAH<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>EX-PARTE:
SUPI GEORGE ASMAH<o:p></o:p>(APPLICANT/APPELLANT/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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">CIVIL
APPEAL. NO J4/28/2012 &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: 15TH AUGUST, 2013<o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;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">K. O. AMPONSA DADZIE AND
ROLAND A. K. HAMILTON LED BY SAM AWOTWI FOR THE APPLICANT/APPELLANT/RESPONDENT. <o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
115%;mso-outline-level:1;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">G. T. WOOD (MRS) C. J
(PRESIDING) J. V. M. DOTSE JSC ANIN-YEBOAH JSC A. A BENIN JSC AND J. B. AKAMBA
JSC<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;
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</div>AKAMBA,
J.S.C. <o:p></o:p>This
appeal is against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Cape Coast delivered on
the 7th day of December 2011, convicting the respondent/appellant (herein after
referred to simply as appellant) for contempt. <o:p></o:p>This
case from its inception clearly demonstrates the deplorable handling of an
interlocutory application by the High Court, Cape Coast pending before it
without recourse to the rules of court. The result is the clear case of a
comedy of errors compounded also by poor representation especially from the
appellant’s camp. The fact situation is reminiscent of what occasioned my
respected and able brother Dotse, JSC to lament in the case of The Republic vs
Edward Acquaye, Ex Parte Charles Essel, in Civil Appeal No J4/11/2008 of 10th
December 2008 thus: “This case is a classic example of how a small issue can be
glossed over by an over zealous litigant and thereby introduce diversionary and
irrelevant matters into the main body of the case.” In the end the real issues
for redress were glossed over in pursuit of non beneficial objectives. <o:p></o:p>FACTS
<o:p></o:p>A
brief statement of the facts which triggered the action would assist in
appreciating the present outcome. On 21st June 2001 one Supi Mark Aaba (now
deceased) initiated the suit when he applied to the High Court, Cape Coast for
an order of Interim Injunction to restrain the appellant from exercising all
public functions as chief until his status as Omanhene has been fully
determined by the appropriate forum. The appropriate forum for the
determination of the status of the appellant as Omanhene can only be a
reference to the Judicial Committee of the Central Regional House of Chiefs.
The High Court per Iris May Heward-Mills (as she then was), without any
hesitation and deliberations, granted the interim relief restraining the
appellant from among others, exercising all functions as Chief until the full
and final determination of his status as Omanhene. From the records, there does
not appear to be any writ pursuant to which the application was predicated. <o:p></o:p>Prior
to the filing of the application for interim injunction, the appellant had been
duly nominated, elected, appointed or installed as Omanhene of the Edina
Traditional Area in accordance with the customs and traditions of the
traditional area under the then Chieftaincy Act, 1971, Act 370. Following this
event, the aforementioned late Supi Mark Aaba and others from Elmina, the seat
of the newly appointed Omanhene, filed a petition at the Judicial Committee of
the Central Regional House of Chiefs challenging the appointment and seeking
his removal. <o:p></o:p>The
said Supi Mark Aaba, the applicant /appellant /respondent (herein after simply
referred as respondent) filed an application, before the same High Court, Cape
Coast which granted the relief of interim injunction, citing the appellant for
contempt thereof. The court after hearing the application convicted the
appellant on 15th July 2002 of contempt (See page 6 and 27 of ROA) and
sentenced him as follows: <o:p></o:p>“1. The Respondent within 48 hours
after the delivery of this ruling is to file and serve an undertaking not to
perform any public function as Omanhene until his status as Omanhene has been
fully and finally determined. <o:p></o:p>2. The Respondent is further ordered
to pay a fine of GH¢ 500.00 <o:p></o:p>3. Cost </main>