RICHARD PAA KWESI KORSAH vs. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ECONOMIC AND ORGANISED CRIME OFFICE AND THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE [2020]DLSC9336

RICHARD PAA KWESI KORSAH vs. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ECONOMIC AND ORGANISED CRIM... [2020]DLSC9336

Date	2020-02-05
Suit No.	WRIT NO. J1/27/2017
Citation No.	[2020]DLSC9336

YEBOAH CJ (PRESIDING)

DOTSE JSC

BAFFOE-BONNIE JSC

APPAU JSC

PWAMANG JSC

AMEGATCHER JSC

KOTEY JSC

AFENYO MARKIN WITH KORKOR OKUTU AND DEBORAH AMEYAW FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

GRACE OPPONG PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENDANTS.

[2020]DLSC9336
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >RICHARD
PAA KWESI KORSAH<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ECONOMIC AND ORGANISED CRIME OFFICE AND THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL
AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT)<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="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center;
line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">WRIT
NO. J1/27/2017&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: 5TH FEBRUARY, 2020<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>AFENYO MARKIN WITH
KORKOR OKUTU AND DEBORAH AMEYAW FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<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">

GRACE OPPONG, PRINCIPAL STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENDANTS.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<o:p></o:p>YEBOAH CJ (PRESIDING), DOTSE JSC, BAFFOE-BONNIE
JSC, APPAU JSC, PWAMANG JSC, AMEGATCHER JSC, KOTEY JSC<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;border-right:none;
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<p class="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%;
border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:
solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>KOTEY,
JSC:-<o:p></o:p>On 5th February, 2020, this Court
dismissed the Plaintiff’s action in this matter on the grounds that its
original jurisdiction has not been properly invoked and that the case lacked
any merit, with reasons to be given later. We proceed to give our reasons.<o:p></o:p>On 4th October, 2017, Plaintiff
instituted this action pursuant to articles 2 and 130 of the 1992 Constitution,
invoking the original jurisdiction of this court for an interpretation and
enforcement of articles 18 and 19 (2)(c) of the 1992 Constitution.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The reliefs sought were a declaration that:<o:p></o:p>i.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Section 23(2) of
the Economic and Organised Crime Act, 2010 Act 804, is inconsistent with
articles 18 and 19 (2)(c) of the 1992 Constitution.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>ii.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
On a true and
proper interpretation of articles 18 and 19(2) (c), citizen’s property cannot
be confiscated or forfeited to the state unless the citizen has been convicted
of a serious offence that has a direct nexus with the affected property.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>iii.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Forfeiture of the
funds to the state by the 1st Defendant pursuant to section 23(3) of
the Economic and Organised Crime Office, 2010 (Act 804) contravenes articles 18
and 19(2) (c) of the 1992 Constitution to the extent that such application for
forfeiture was made ex parte.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>iv.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;