THE REPUBLIC vs. KWAME DOSSE AND 2 OTHERS EX PARTE: BEN KOOMSON PAYIN [2018]DLHC5448

Date	2018-11-30
Suit No.	SUIT NO: CR/708/2018
Citation No.	[2018]DLHC5448

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]DLHC5448
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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 AND 2 OTHERS<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENTS)<o:p></o:p>EX PARTE: BEN KOOMSON PAYIN<o:p></o:p>(APPLICANT)<o:p></o:p>[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 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; &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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PRINCE FREDERICK NII ASHIE NEEQUAYE FOR THE 2ND
AND 3RD RESPONDENTS <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;
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KWEKU
T. ACKAAH-BOAFO JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT<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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DECISION<o:p></o:p>

</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<a href="file:///F:/COURT%20OF%20APPEAL/New%20folder/New%20folder/New%20folder/New%20folder%20(2)/R%20V.%20%20Kwame%20%20DOSSE.Okaikoi.Municipal.ASSEMBLY..docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title="">[1]</a>, 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<a href="file:///F:/COURT%20OF%20APPEAL/New%20folder/New%20folder/New%20folder/New%20</main>