THE REPUBLIC vs. SEKONDI-TAKORADI METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY (S.T.M.A.) AND 3 OTHERS, EX-PARTE: ROBERT DEDUME [2021]DLHC11649

THE REPUBLIC vs. SEKONDI-TAKORADI METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY (S.T.M.A.) AND 3 OTHERS,... [2021]DLHC11649

Date	2021-12-07
Suit No.	SUIT NO: E9/19/21
Citation No.	[2021]DLHC11649

HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE DR. RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE J.

ALBERT QUASHIGAH ESQ FOR APPLICANT

SAMUEL AGBOTTAH ESQ FOR RESPONDENTS

[2021]DLHC11649
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >IN THE MATTER OF SUIT NO: E1/91/21; ROBERT DEDUME VRS
SEKONDI/TAKORADI METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY<o:p></o:p>AND<o:p></o:p>IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION BY ROBERT DEDUME FOR THE
COMMITTAL OF RESPONDENTS FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT.<o:p></o:p>IN THE MATTER OF:<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>SEKONDI-TAKORADI METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY (S.T.M.A.) AND 3 OTHERS<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENTS)<o:p></o:p>EX-PARTE: ROBERT DEDUME<o:p></o:p>(APPLICANT)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, SEKONDI]<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: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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">SUIT NO: E9/19/21&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:
7TH DECEMBER, 2021<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL<o:p></o:p>ALBERT QUASHIGAH ESQ, FOR APPLICANT<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: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">SAMUEL AGBOTTAH ESQ, FOR
RESPONDENTS<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM<o:p></o:p>HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE DR. RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE
J.<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 0cm;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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">RULING<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;This
ruling is in respect of a contempt application commenced against the
Respondents herein.<o:p></o:p>On
20th April, 2021 the Applicant herein, Robert Dedume filed this
contempt application against the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) and
three of its officers namely Abdul Mumuni Issah, John Nana Owu and William
Tei-Kpoti for bringing the court into disrepute. Applicant is praying this
court for an order for committal of Respondents herein to prison for contempt
of this court.<o:p></o:p>The
background facts leading to this application are that the 1st
Respondent, STMA is a metropolitan assembly established under the Local
Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936) and responsible for planning and development of
the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis. 2nd Respondent is the Metropolitan
Chief Executive of the 1st Respondent. 3rd and 4th
Respondents are the Metropolitan Coordinating Director and Metropolitan
Engineer respectively.<o:p></o:p>On
30th March, 2021 the Applicant herein caused a writ to be issued
against the 1st Respondent herein in a suit entitled ROBERT DEDUME
VS. SEKONDI-TAKORADI METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY with Suit Number E1/91/21. The
Applicant herein and Plaintiff therein sought the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p>a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A
declaration that Plaintiff has lawful interest in the subject property.<o:p></o:p>b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A
declaration that any so-called or intended development does not affect
Plaintiff’s shop.<o:p></o:p>c.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A
declaration that Plaintiff’s shop will not interfere with any intended project.
<o:p></o:p>d.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A
declaration that Plaintiff relied on Defendant’s representation and continued
to invest in the integrity and security of the shop.<o:p></o:p>e.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An
order of perpetual injunction restraining Defendant from any demolition of
Plaintiff’s shop.<o:p></o:p>f.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An
order directing the Assembly to regularize the interest in the subject
property.<o:p></o:p>g.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Costs including legal fees.<o:p></o:p>On
the same 30th March, 2021 the Applicant herein filed an application for
an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Defendant therein, its
assigns, privies, workmen, agents or however called or described from taking
any steps jointly or severally to demolish or remove Plaintiff’s shop situate
at Collins Avenue, adjacent to ECG, Collins Avenue, Sekondi pending the final
determination of the suit.<o:p></o:p></</main>