Okyenhene & Others courting trouble in Akwamu Stool crisis

The Herald, has picked up a report, suggesting that some elements at the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, are walking into a case of contempt of court in the Akwamu stool matter.

According to the information available to this paper, some prominent chiefs at the Regional House of Chiefs, are scheming to gazette the name of a disputed Akwamumanhene, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, as the legitimate traditional ruler of the area.

This is in spite of the fact that his legitimacy as the Akwamumanhene, has been challenged among other things, which the Supreme Court is expected to make a pronouncement on shortly.

The Herald is told that, Yaa Ansaa Royal Family of Akwamu in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern region, is keenly watching Okyehene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II and Konor of the Manya Krobo Traditional Area, Nene Sackitey II.

Reports say, the two are allegedly nursing the idea of inserting the name of Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, as the Akwamumanhene, ahead of the Supreme Court decision on the matter.

This paper’s information is that, the Yaa Ansaa Royal Family, is planning to cite the two for Contempt of Court, should they insert the name of Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III.

In the past, the family had appealed to the government, institutions, public and private organizations, as well as well-meaning Ghanaians, to desist from engaging one Kwabena Owiredu as Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III-Akwamumanhene.

According to the Royal Family, anyone who goes ahead to deal with the disputed chief, does so at their own risk, especially at a time the Kumasi High Court has ruled in their favour that the said man is a mere “self-classed” chief.

The Family’s admonishing comes on the heels of a ruling by the Court presided over by (SGD) Francis Obiri, after an application for contempt against Secretary of the Family, Owusu Bruku, was dismissed by the Court.

The self-classed Omanhene, had filed an application in a SUIT NO C12/227/2019 under Section 36 (1) of the Court Act, 1993 (Act 459) on November 11, 2019 and prayed the Court to convict the respondent, Owusu Bruku, to prison for contempt of court for his conduct in casting aspersions on the judgment of the Judicial Committee of the National House of Chiefs dated May 23, 2019.

The November 11, 2019, application was, however, dismissed on February 3, 2020 by the Court.

In his ruling, the judge, (SGD) Justice Francis Obiri, said, he could not grant the wish of the Applicant because he did not see how the Respondent’s request to know if Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III name, has been entered into the National Register of Chiefs as Omanhene of Akwamu Traditional Area, could amount to contempt.

“In my candid opinion, I do not see how such a question could meet any of the requirements which have been stated above to prove contempt of court. I do not think it prejudices the judgment of the National House of Chiefs in any way”, the judge’s ruling said.

The applicant then proceeded to the Kumasi High Court ‘4’ presided over by Justice C. A Wilson to file an ex-parte motion for contempt against the Respondent alleging that he was in contempt of Court.

However, the Court in it ruling on March 24, 2020, dismissed the ex-parte motion and awarded a sum of GHC5,000.00 (Five Thousand Ghana Cedis) judgment to the Respondent (Owusu Bruku).

Part of the ruling by Justice Wilson read, “As a general rule a party who is aggrieved by a decision of a Judicial or adjudicating body may challenge or appeal the decision to a higher court to have the decision reversed or vacated even if the applicant is to be affected by the decision he may equally appeal.

The alleged contemnor has sought to appeal the decision of the National House of Chiefs and, he cannot be debarred from doing so. The burden of proof necessary to sustain a charge of perjury is tremendously heavy and it is not met in this application.

Source: The Heraldghana