NANA AGYARE BOFOUR IV & ANOTHER vs. JOSEPH ADADE ANSAH & 2 OTHERS [2020]DLSC9913

Date	2020-11-11
Suit No.	CHIEFTAINCY APPEAL NO. J2/01/2020
Citation No.	[2020]DLSC9913

DOTSE JSC (PRESIDING)

PWAMANG JSC

TORKORNOO (MRS.) JSC

HONYENUGA JSC

PROF. MENSA-BONSU (MRS.) JSC

NANA OBRI BOAHEN FOR THE PETITIONER/APPELLANT/APPELLANT

KWADWO ADU BOSOMPEM FOR THE RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT

[2020]DLSC9913
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><a name="_Hlk35510717">NANA AGYARE BOFOUR IV CHIEF OF KOJO BOFOUR AND ADONTENHENE OF
YEJI TRADITIONAL AREA</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(PETITONER/APPELLANT/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>JOSEPH ADADE ANSAH OF
YEJI KUO, NANA KOFI AYEREKETE, NIFAHENE OF YEJI TRADITIONAL COUNCIL, NANA YAW
KAGBRESE V, YEJI TRADITIONAL COUNCIL, YEJI<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS/ RESPONDENTS)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">

CHIEFTAINCY APPEAL
NO. J2/01/2020&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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:
11TH
NOVEMBER, 2020<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>NANA OBRI BOAHEN FOR THE PETITIONER/APPELLANT/APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">

KWADWO ADU BOSOMPEM FOR THE
RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>DOTSE, JSC (PRESIDING), PWAMANG, JSC,
TORKORNOO (MRS.), JSC, HONYENUGA, JSC, PROF. MENSA-BONSU (MRS.), JSC<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top-width: 1.5pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-left: none; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-right: none; padding: 1pt 0in;">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:
150%;tab-stops:147.0pt;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>DOTSE, JSC:-<o:p></o:p>On the 11th day of November 2020, this
court by a unanimous decision, dismissed the appeal filed by the
Petitioner/Appellant/Appellant, hereafter referred to as the Petitioner,
against the decision of the Judicial Committee of the National House of Chiefs
dated 30th day of August 2018 which decision was in favour of the
Respondents/Respondents/Respondents hereafter referred to as Respondents.<o:p></o:p>We now proffer reasons for our decision.<o:p></o:p>This case no doubt is a cause or matter affecting
chieftaincy. It therefore takes its roots from the Constitution 1992. But how
did this all evolve under the Constitution of 1992?<o:p></o:p>Report of the Committee of Experts, (Constitution)
on Proposals for a Draft Constitution of Ghana which was presented to the
P.N.D.C on 31st July 1991 states as follows in paragraphs 339, and
340 of the Report on page 156.<o:p></o:p>339.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “It is worth recalling
that Akufo-Addo Report recommended the integration of chieftaincy with the
local government system<o:p></o:p>While the
committee would not go so far as to recommend such a radical step, it would
nevertheless draw attention to the following:-<o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Chieftaincy
constitutes a major resource that could be officially tapped in reinforcing the
modern governmental structure.<o:p></o:p>2.<span style="font-style: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Having
regard to the high intellectual and professional calibre that the institution
of chieftaincy attracts these days, chiefs may now be regarded as a significant
source of talent for the modern sector.”<o:p></o:p>340.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “The
Committee accordingly recommends that (1)
the institution of chieftaincy be guaranteed in the Constitution, as in the
previous constitutions,<o:p></o:p>(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; appropriate
steps be taken to ensure that the effective participation of chiefs in the
local government system; and <o:p></o:p>(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; adequate
resources be made available from stool land revenues to enable chiefs to play
their legitimate role as leaders and catalysts in the development process.”
Emphasis<o:p></o:p>It was therefore pursuant to the above proposals
that articles 270 to 277 provisions of the Constitution 1992 which guarantee
and regulate the institution of chieftaincy have been provided. For example,
article 270 (1) (2) and (3) of the Constitution 1992 provides as follows:-<o:p></o:p>270.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “The Institution of Chieftaincy<o:p></o:p>