THE REPUBLIC vs. KWAME DOSSE, OKAIKOI NORTH MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY AND BOYE LARYEA, MUNICIPAL C.E.O EX PARTE: BEN KOOMSON PAYIN [2018]DLHC3954

THE REPUBLIC vs. KWAME DOSSE, OKAIKOI NORTH MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY AND BOYE LARYEA,... [2018]DLHC3954

Date	2018-11-30
Suit No.	SUIT NO. CR/708/2018
Citation No.	[2018]DLHC3954

KWEKU T. ACKAAH-BOAFO JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT

DOROTHY DOLLEY FRIEDLANDER FOR THE APPLICANT

PETER OSEI ASAMOAH FOR THE 1ST RESPONDENT

PRINCE FREDERICK NII ASHIE NEEQUAYE FOR THE 2ND AND 3RD RESPONDENTS

[2018]DLHC3954
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>KWAME DOSSE, OKAIKOI
NORTH MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY AND BOYE LARYEA, MUNICIPAL C.E.O<o:p></o:p>EX PARTE: BEN KOOMSON
PAYIN<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH COURT
(GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION), ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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SUIT&nbsp;NO. CR/708/2018&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: 30TH NOVEMBER, 2018<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>DOROTHY DOLLEY FRIEDLANDER FOR THE APPLICANT <o:p></o:p>PETER OSEI ASAMOAH FOR THE 1ST RESPONDENT <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div>CORAM: <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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KWEKU T. ACKAAH-BOAFO JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT<o:p></o:p>

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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-top:1.45pt;margin-right:0in;
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</div>APPLICATION
FOR COMMITTAL FOR CONTEMPT<o:p></o:p>i.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Introduction:<o:p></o:p>[1]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
denial of liberty of any citizen of our Republic resulting from a charge of
contempt is effected in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.
Even though there is no specific law on contempt in Ghana, the absence of
codification of the law of contempt in Ghana does not in itself violate the
principle that there must not be crime or punishment except in accordance with
fixed or pre‑determined law. This is because the charge of contempt of court in
Ghana rests in the concept of the public defiance that accompanies the charge
of contempt.&nbsp; To establish contempt in Ghana the Applicant must prove
beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused defied or disobeyed a court order,
with intent, knowledge or recklessness as to the fact that the public
disobedience will tend to depreciate the authority of the court. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[2].&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As previously stated by this
Court ‘contempt of court is the big stick of
civil litigation and because of the serious nature of a contempt finding, a
finding should be made sparingly and only in the clearest cut of cases. A
direct intention to disobey a Court order or an act to prejudice a pending
application is required and it ought to be a willful disregard of the order or
prejudice the outcome of a pending suit in the Court’.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>3]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; By a Motion on Notice filed at the
registry of this court on October 2,
2018, the Applicant herein is
praying the Court to use the “big stick” against the Respondents, “for an order
to commit the Respondents herein for Contempt of this Honourable Court”. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[4]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Black’s Law Dictionary 8th Edition defines
contempt as “conduct that defies the authority or dignity of a Court or
legislature. Because such conduct interferes with the administration of
justice, it is punishable</main>