By Edmund Mingle
Thursday, 03 July 2008
THE dismissed chairman of the Senior Staff Association of the Bank of Ghana, Benjamin Duffuor, was arrested by the police yesterday morning while addressing workers at the bank’s head office in Accra.
His arrest sparked an indefinite strike action by the workers who said they would not resume work until their leader was released and reinstated.
The strike, which affected numerous clients of the bank, was spreading to the regional branches of the central bank as at the time of going to press.
Some executives of the association told the Times that personnel from the Accra Regional Police Headquarters bundled Mr Duffuor into a police vehicle, while he was addressing the workers in front of the bank.
Regional Police Commander, Kwaku Ayensu Opare-Addo, confirmed Mr Duffuor’s arrest by his outfit on an Accra FM radio station later, but the bank’s management has denied giving the order for his arrest.
Esi Hammond, Public Relations Manager of the bank, told the Times that she was not aware of any directive from management for Mr. Duffuor’s arrest.
As at mid-day yesterday, most of the workers were outside chatting, while a large police contingent was on standby in front of the bank.
Some of the workers’ leaders, who spoke to the Times but declined to disclose their identities for fear of victimisation, described the action by management as "intimidatory."
The appointments of Mr. Duffuor and the association’s secretary, Mr Frank Mensah, were terminated last Friday, sparking a strike on Monday by the staff who demanded their reinstatement.
Although management has not assigned reasons for the dismissals, the striking workers said they believe it has to do with their involvement in attempts to turn the staff association into a labour union, which the bank considers illegal.
On Monday, amidst heavy police presence, the workers, demonstrated at the bank’s premises. They wore red protest arm bands, chanted war songs and displayed placards some of which read: "We want a union", "Reinstate our leaders now" and "Governor, don’t act like Mugabe".
The arrest and dismissals constitute the latest developments in the impasse over the unionisation of workers of the bank.
The bank has instituted legal action against the Attorney-General (A-G) and the National Labour Commission (NLC) on the purported registration and recognition of the bank’s Senior Staff Association as a labour union, challenging the A-G’s purported registration and the NLC’s recognition of the association as such, citing Article 24 (3), (4) of the 1992 Constitution and also Section 79 of the Labour Act 2003.
Article 24(3) of the Constitution guarantees for the employees right to join a trade union for the promotion and protection of their economic and social interests, while Clause 4 bars any restrictions on the exercise of the right, "except those prescribed by law, in the interest of national security and the protection of the rights and freedoms of others."
Section 63 (2a) of the Labour Act 651 states that "a worker’s employment is terminated unfairly if the only reason for the termination is that the worker has joined, intends to join or has ceased to be a member of a trade union or intends to take part in the activities of a trade union".
Section 79 of the Labour Act 2003 guarantees freedom of association, but also sets out some classes of workers and functions such as those in management or sensitive positions, who must first reach an agreement with their employers before joining trade unions.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
DRIVERS DETAINED AT ‘37’ MORTUARY
By Edmund Mingle
Monday, 07 July 2008
Some drivers of Commercial (tro-tro) vehicles and their mates have been subjected to dehumanizing methods of punishment allegedly by military guards at the 37 Military Hospital for flouting traffic regulations.
Offending drivers and their mates were allegedly detained in the hospital’s mortuary and made to arrange dead bodies or mop up water on the floor.
Investigations by the Times revealed that the practice started about three weeks ago to punish recalcitrant "trotro" drivers.
"One soldier hit my chest and forced me to arrange bodies," Paul Twum, a 20-year-old driver’s mate, told the Times.
Twum said he spent about an hour at the mortuary.
"They made me to carry a dead child on my chest as if I am carrying my child," said Kwesi Daniels, a driver who suffered the ordeal two weeks ago.
Another driver, who declined to give his name, alleged that "they made me fondle a dead woman’s breast".
When the Times visited the hospital at about 11am last Thursday, three drivers and their mates had been detained at the entrance of the hospital, while the passengers pleaded for their release.
A female Lieutenant-Colonel (name withheld) was threatening at the top of her voice to send the offending drivers into the mortuary.
"We have to teach you a lesson," she shouted
Assisted by two corporals on guard duty at the main gate of the hospital, the Lt-Col. told the pleading passengers that the drivers were being punished because they had been stopping close to the entrance of the hospital instead of going to the bus stop.
That practice, she said usually created congestion at the entrance which posed problems for the hospital, especially, when ambulances were moving in and out.
The detained "trotro" drivers were released later after the passengers questioned the justification for the release of a Metro Mass Transport driver who was guilty of the offence.
The passengers suggested that a "No Parking" sign be mounted at the entrance to warn drivers.
On Friday, when the Commander's attention was drawn to the way the soldiers were treating the offending drivers and their mates, he immediately summoned those involved and declared his intention to institute disciplinary action against the perpetrators, including a woman Lieutenant-Colonel, a number of corporals and the mortuary attendants.
The mortuary attendants, on Friday, admitted to the Commander in the presence of the Times that the drivers and their mates who were brought in batches to the mortuary by the soldiers, were given work to do, but denied forcing them to arrange corpses.
The Lt- Col. also admitted that she ordered that the offending drivers be given work to do in the mortuary on Thursday, but said she did not follow up to see the type of work they were given.
Monday, 07 July 2008
Some drivers of Commercial (tro-tro) vehicles and their mates have been subjected to dehumanizing methods of punishment allegedly by military guards at the 37 Military Hospital for flouting traffic regulations.
Offending drivers and their mates were allegedly detained in the hospital’s mortuary and made to arrange dead bodies or mop up water on the floor.
Investigations by the Times revealed that the practice started about three weeks ago to punish recalcitrant "trotro" drivers.
"One soldier hit my chest and forced me to arrange bodies," Paul Twum, a 20-year-old driver’s mate, told the Times.
Twum said he spent about an hour at the mortuary.
"They made me to carry a dead child on my chest as if I am carrying my child," said Kwesi Daniels, a driver who suffered the ordeal two weeks ago.
Another driver, who declined to give his name, alleged that "they made me fondle a dead woman’s breast".
When the Times visited the hospital at about 11am last Thursday, three drivers and their mates had been detained at the entrance of the hospital, while the passengers pleaded for their release.
A female Lieutenant-Colonel (name withheld) was threatening at the top of her voice to send the offending drivers into the mortuary.
"We have to teach you a lesson," she shouted
Assisted by two corporals on guard duty at the main gate of the hospital, the Lt-Col. told the pleading passengers that the drivers were being punished because they had been stopping close to the entrance of the hospital instead of going to the bus stop.
That practice, she said usually created congestion at the entrance which posed problems for the hospital, especially, when ambulances were moving in and out.
The detained "trotro" drivers were released later after the passengers questioned the justification for the release of a Metro Mass Transport driver who was guilty of the offence.
The passengers suggested that a "No Parking" sign be mounted at the entrance to warn drivers.
On Friday, when the Commander's attention was drawn to the way the soldiers were treating the offending drivers and their mates, he immediately summoned those involved and declared his intention to institute disciplinary action against the perpetrators, including a woman Lieutenant-Colonel, a number of corporals and the mortuary attendants.
The mortuary attendants, on Friday, admitted to the Commander in the presence of the Times that the drivers and their mates who were brought in batches to the mortuary by the soldiers, were given work to do, but denied forcing them to arrange corpses.
The Lt- Col. also admitted that she ordered that the offending drivers be given work to do in the mortuary on Thursday, but said she did not follow up to see the type of work they were given.
‘37’ MILITARY HOSPITAL SETS UP PROBE
By Edmund MIngle
Tuesday, 08 July 2008
A board of enquiry is being set up by the management of the 37 Military Hospital to investigate allegations of detention and torture of some commercial drivers and their mates by military guards at the hospital as punishment for traffic offences in front of the hospital.
"The board will determine the charges to be levelled against the culprits," a source close to the hospital’s management told the Ghanaian Times yesterday.
This paper reported yesterday that for the past three weeks, recalcitrant drivers arrested by military guards for parking wrongly in front of the hospital or dropping off or picking passengers there, were allegedly detained in the hospital’s mortuary as punishment.
The punishment also included cleaning and arranging corpses and mopping the mortuary floor.
The setting up of the board follows a directive from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to the hospital to investigate the matter and those found culpable, punished.
A GAF release issued yesterday and signed by the Public Relations Director, Colonel E.W.K. Nibo, said appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against the guards if they are found to have misconducted themselves.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) yesterday condemned the cruel treatment meted out to the drivers and mates concerned
"CHRAJ believes the incident is unacceptable and goes against Article 15 of the Constitution," Comfort Akosua Edu, the Commission’s Public Affairs Manager told the Times in reaction to the story.
Article 15 of Chapter five, which has provisions protecting the fundamental human rights and freedoms of citizens, states among other things that: (1) the dignity of all persons shall be inviolable, (2) no person shall, whether or not he is arrested, restricted or detained, be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of punishment and (3) a person who has not been convicted of a criminal offence shall not be treated as a convicted person".
The Commission, she said, would hold on taking up the matter since that the Commander of the Hospital, Brigadier-General Wadhwani, has acted by taking steps to reprimand the perpetrators.
"We want to agree with the Commander who swiftly condemned the act and plans to discipline those soldiers," she said, adding that "the Commission will take the Commander at his word.The commission would have handled the matter differently if they had not accepted their fault."
Mrs. Edu explained that the country’s legal system requires that suspects are handed over to the police for prosecution and for the law courts to determine their guilt or innocence and hand down appropriate sentence if found guilty.
On Friday, when the Commander’s attention was drawn to the way the soldiers were treating the offending drivers and their mates, he immediately summoned those involved and declared his intention to institute disciplinary action against the perpetrators, including a woman Lieutenant-Colonel, a number of corporals and the mortuary attendants.
The mortuary attendants, on Friday, admitted to the Commander, in the presence of the Times that the drivers and their mates who were brought in batches to the mortuary by the soldiers, were given work to do, but denied forcing them to arrange corpses.
The Lt- Col. also admitted that she ordered that the offending drivers be given work to do in the mortuary on Thursday, but said she did not follow up to see the type of work they were given.
Tuesday, 08 July 2008
A board of enquiry is being set up by the management of the 37 Military Hospital to investigate allegations of detention and torture of some commercial drivers and their mates by military guards at the hospital as punishment for traffic offences in front of the hospital.
"The board will determine the charges to be levelled against the culprits," a source close to the hospital’s management told the Ghanaian Times yesterday.
This paper reported yesterday that for the past three weeks, recalcitrant drivers arrested by military guards for parking wrongly in front of the hospital or dropping off or picking passengers there, were allegedly detained in the hospital’s mortuary as punishment.
The punishment also included cleaning and arranging corpses and mopping the mortuary floor.
The setting up of the board follows a directive from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to the hospital to investigate the matter and those found culpable, punished.
A GAF release issued yesterday and signed by the Public Relations Director, Colonel E.W.K. Nibo, said appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against the guards if they are found to have misconducted themselves.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) yesterday condemned the cruel treatment meted out to the drivers and mates concerned
"CHRAJ believes the incident is unacceptable and goes against Article 15 of the Constitution," Comfort Akosua Edu, the Commission’s Public Affairs Manager told the Times in reaction to the story.
Article 15 of Chapter five, which has provisions protecting the fundamental human rights and freedoms of citizens, states among other things that: (1) the dignity of all persons shall be inviolable, (2) no person shall, whether or not he is arrested, restricted or detained, be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of punishment and (3) a person who has not been convicted of a criminal offence shall not be treated as a convicted person".
The Commission, she said, would hold on taking up the matter since that the Commander of the Hospital, Brigadier-General Wadhwani, has acted by taking steps to reprimand the perpetrators.
"We want to agree with the Commander who swiftly condemned the act and plans to discipline those soldiers," she said, adding that "the Commission will take the Commander at his word.The commission would have handled the matter differently if they had not accepted their fault."
Mrs. Edu explained that the country’s legal system requires that suspects are handed over to the police for prosecution and for the law courts to determine their guilt or innocence and hand down appropriate sentence if found guilty.
On Friday, when the Commander’s attention was drawn to the way the soldiers were treating the offending drivers and their mates, he immediately summoned those involved and declared his intention to institute disciplinary action against the perpetrators, including a woman Lieutenant-Colonel, a number of corporals and the mortuary attendants.
The mortuary attendants, on Friday, admitted to the Commander, in the presence of the Times that the drivers and their mates who were brought in batches to the mortuary by the soldiers, were given work to do, but denied forcing them to arrange corpses.
The Lt- Col. also admitted that she ordered that the offending drivers be given work to do in the mortuary on Thursday, but said she did not follow up to see the type of work they were given.
GPRTU To Assist '37' Military Hospital Probe
By Edmund Mingle
Wednesday, 09 July 2008
The leadership of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has promised to cooperate with the board of enquiry being set up by the management of the 37 Military Hospital to investigate alleged detention and torture of commercial (trotro) drivers in the hospital’s mortuary by soldiers.
"We will ask the affected drivers and mates to testify before the committee," Alhaji Yaw Manu, national chairman of the Union, told the Times yesterday.
So far, Alhaji Manu said, four drivers have formally informed the union of their ordeal at the hands of the military guards.
He said although the hospital has not notified the union of the setting up of the investigating committee, "the union is prepared to ensure that we get to the bottom of the matter."
The Times reported on Monday, that for the past three weeks, recalcitrant drivers arrested by military guards for parking wrongly in front of the hospital or dropping off and picking passengers there, were allegedly detained in batches to work at the hospital’s mortuary as punishment. Their punishment included arranging corpses, mopping the mortuary floor and cleaning.
Alhaji Manu also said the union was arranging to send the affected drivers and mates to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for medical checks ups.
The move is to find out if any of them has contracted any disease as a result of having worked in the mortuary without protective gear.
"We want to have them checked to give them the necessary medical care if there has been some infection," Alhaji Manu.
The management of the hospital on Monday, began setting up a board of enquiry to investigate the allegations.
Alhaji Manu described the treatment meted out to the drivers as regrettable, saying the union was inviting all other victims to undergo medical checks.
The union is calling an emergency national council meeting on the matter to discuss how to resolve it, he said.
Asked why the union would rather not ask the military hospital to do the medical checks, he said that would not be a wise thing to do.
"How can you ask someone who has hit your face to check if your eye is swollen? He will never tell you it is swollen, even if it is swollen," he replied in Twi.
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Monday, condemned the treatment meted out to the drivers, describing it as cruel and against their fundamental human rights
Wednesday, 09 July 2008
The leadership of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has promised to cooperate with the board of enquiry being set up by the management of the 37 Military Hospital to investigate alleged detention and torture of commercial (trotro) drivers in the hospital’s mortuary by soldiers.
"We will ask the affected drivers and mates to testify before the committee," Alhaji Yaw Manu, national chairman of the Union, told the Times yesterday.
So far, Alhaji Manu said, four drivers have formally informed the union of their ordeal at the hands of the military guards.
He said although the hospital has not notified the union of the setting up of the investigating committee, "the union is prepared to ensure that we get to the bottom of the matter."
The Times reported on Monday, that for the past three weeks, recalcitrant drivers arrested by military guards for parking wrongly in front of the hospital or dropping off and picking passengers there, were allegedly detained in batches to work at the hospital’s mortuary as punishment. Their punishment included arranging corpses, mopping the mortuary floor and cleaning.
Alhaji Manu also said the union was arranging to send the affected drivers and mates to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for medical checks ups.
The move is to find out if any of them has contracted any disease as a result of having worked in the mortuary without protective gear.
"We want to have them checked to give them the necessary medical care if there has been some infection," Alhaji Manu.
The management of the hospital on Monday, began setting up a board of enquiry to investigate the allegations.
Alhaji Manu described the treatment meted out to the drivers as regrettable, saying the union was inviting all other victims to undergo medical checks.
The union is calling an emergency national council meeting on the matter to discuss how to resolve it, he said.
Asked why the union would rather not ask the military hospital to do the medical checks, he said that would not be a wise thing to do.
"How can you ask someone who has hit your face to check if your eye is swollen? He will never tell you it is swollen, even if it is swollen," he replied in Twi.
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Monday, condemned the treatment meted out to the drivers, describing it as cruel and against their fundamental human rights
Probe Into ‘37’ Incidents Begins
By Edmund Mingle
Friday, 11 July 2008
THE Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has set up a body to investigate allegations of detention and torture of some commercial drivers and their mates by military guards at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
It is the second to be set up after the hospital’s management instituted an internal board of enquiry to investigate the matter for those soldiers found culpable to be punished.
As part of the investigations by the GAF, some of the commercial drivers and mates yesterday gave their testimonies to a team from the Special Investigation Branch of the Military Police of the GAF.
Testimonies of the 12 victims the Times met there were taken by the investigating team behind closed doors in the Trades Union Congress boardroom where the head office of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union is located.
The victims, some of them still looking traumatised, and others with wounds on their faces as a result of the alleged torture by the military guards, appeared before the two-member interrogating team one after the other.
Two representatives of the GPRTU, led by the Deputy General Secretary of Operations, Tham Ernest, sat in the meeting.Two of the victims with swollen cheeks and eyes, told newsmen, before the hearing was closed to the media, that they were beaten by the guards when they initially refused to enter the mortuary.
The Times reported on Monday that for the past three weeks, recalcitrant drivers who were arrested by military guards for parking wrongly infront of the hospital or dropping off and picking passengers there were allegedly detained at the hospital’s mortuary as punishment.
The punishment also included arranging corpses, cleaning and mopping up the mortuary floor.
Staff Sergeant Divine Asigbetsey, who led the team from the SIB, told the Times that they have been mandated by the Military High Command to collect the evidence of the drivers and their mates as a basis to interrogate the offending soldiers some of whom have been identified.
He said that as a norm, it was necessary in any investigations that the statement of a complainant was taken first before interrogating the accused.
He said if it becomes necessary during the investigations, the victims may be required to help identify other soldiers who have not been identified by the SIB.
The management of the hospital has also set up an internal committee to investigate the matter.
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Monday, condemned the treatment meted out to those concerned, describing it as cruel and against their fundamental human rights.
Alhaji Yaw Manu, Chairman of the GPRTU, on Tuesday, gave the assurance that the Union would assist in the investigations to resolve the matter, adding that the affected drivers and mates would be sent to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for medical check-ups.
Friday, 11 July 2008
THE Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has set up a body to investigate allegations of detention and torture of some commercial drivers and their mates by military guards at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
It is the second to be set up after the hospital’s management instituted an internal board of enquiry to investigate the matter for those soldiers found culpable to be punished.
As part of the investigations by the GAF, some of the commercial drivers and mates yesterday gave their testimonies to a team from the Special Investigation Branch of the Military Police of the GAF.
Testimonies of the 12 victims the Times met there were taken by the investigating team behind closed doors in the Trades Union Congress boardroom where the head office of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union is located.
The victims, some of them still looking traumatised, and others with wounds on their faces as a result of the alleged torture by the military guards, appeared before the two-member interrogating team one after the other.
Two representatives of the GPRTU, led by the Deputy General Secretary of Operations, Tham Ernest, sat in the meeting.Two of the victims with swollen cheeks and eyes, told newsmen, before the hearing was closed to the media, that they were beaten by the guards when they initially refused to enter the mortuary.
The Times reported on Monday that for the past three weeks, recalcitrant drivers who were arrested by military guards for parking wrongly infront of the hospital or dropping off and picking passengers there were allegedly detained at the hospital’s mortuary as punishment.
The punishment also included arranging corpses, cleaning and mopping up the mortuary floor.
Staff Sergeant Divine Asigbetsey, who led the team from the SIB, told the Times that they have been mandated by the Military High Command to collect the evidence of the drivers and their mates as a basis to interrogate the offending soldiers some of whom have been identified.
He said that as a norm, it was necessary in any investigations that the statement of a complainant was taken first before interrogating the accused.
He said if it becomes necessary during the investigations, the victims may be required to help identify other soldiers who have not been identified by the SIB.
The management of the hospital has also set up an internal committee to investigate the matter.
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Monday, condemned the treatment meted out to those concerned, describing it as cruel and against their fundamental human rights.
Alhaji Yaw Manu, Chairman of the GPRTU, on Tuesday, gave the assurance that the Union would assist in the investigations to resolve the matter, adding that the affected drivers and mates would be sent to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for medical check-ups.
'37' Personnel Quizzed By Probe
By Edmund Mingle
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
A number of military personnel at the ‘37’ Military Hospital have been interrogated over their alleged involvement in the detention and torture of some drivers and their mates in the hospital’s mortuary for traffic offences.
A source close to the committee set up by the Special Investigation Branch of the Military Police, told the Times that some civilian mortuary attendants at the hospital were also interrogated.
Although the details of the interrogations were not disclosed, the source said the committee is preparing its report for submission to the Ghana Armed Forces High Command for action.
Last Thursday, 12 drivers and mates testified to the committee about the inhuman treatment that they suffered at the hands of some soldiers and mortuary attendants.
The Times on July 7, reported that some commercial drivers and their mates were subjected to inhuman methods of punishment by military guards at the 37 Military Hospital for flouting traffic regulations in front of the hospital.
As part of the punishment, the drivers and mates were detained at the mortuary and made to arrange corpses, mop the floor and clean the mortuary.
Meanwhile, the 12 victims whose statements were taken on Thursday have been given medical forms to go for medical check up.
The forms were provided by the GAF on Friday, after the GPRTU declined an offer for victims to be examined at the 37 Military Hospital, insisting that an independent hospital should examine them.
The hospital’s management is also conducting internal investigations into the matter.
Meanwhile, President J.A. Kufuor has condemned the incident.
Speaking to newsmen at the Accra airport on their arrival from the G8 Summit in Japan, last Friday, the Press Secretary, Andrew Awuni, said the President took strong exception to the alleged molestation of the drivers and mates describing it as "unacceptable and un-Ghanaian."
Mr Awuni said President Kufuor endorsed the investigation by the Military High Command into the matter, adding that such undemocratic behaviour would not be tolerated.
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice as well as the Ghana Private Road Transport Union have also condemned the incidents.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
A number of military personnel at the ‘37’ Military Hospital have been interrogated over their alleged involvement in the detention and torture of some drivers and their mates in the hospital’s mortuary for traffic offences.
A source close to the committee set up by the Special Investigation Branch of the Military Police, told the Times that some civilian mortuary attendants at the hospital were also interrogated.
Although the details of the interrogations were not disclosed, the source said the committee is preparing its report for submission to the Ghana Armed Forces High Command for action.
Last Thursday, 12 drivers and mates testified to the committee about the inhuman treatment that they suffered at the hands of some soldiers and mortuary attendants.
The Times on July 7, reported that some commercial drivers and their mates were subjected to inhuman methods of punishment by military guards at the 37 Military Hospital for flouting traffic regulations in front of the hospital.
As part of the punishment, the drivers and mates were detained at the mortuary and made to arrange corpses, mop the floor and clean the mortuary.
Meanwhile, the 12 victims whose statements were taken on Thursday have been given medical forms to go for medical check up.
The forms were provided by the GAF on Friday, after the GPRTU declined an offer for victims to be examined at the 37 Military Hospital, insisting that an independent hospital should examine them.
The hospital’s management is also conducting internal investigations into the matter.
Meanwhile, President J.A. Kufuor has condemned the incident.
Speaking to newsmen at the Accra airport on their arrival from the G8 Summit in Japan, last Friday, the Press Secretary, Andrew Awuni, said the President took strong exception to the alleged molestation of the drivers and mates describing it as "unacceptable and un-Ghanaian."
Mr Awuni said President Kufuor endorsed the investigation by the Military High Command into the matter, adding that such undemocratic behaviour would not be tolerated.
The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice as well as the Ghana Private Road Transport Union have also condemned the incidents.
Ala Adjetey Passes Away
By Edmund Mingle
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Peter Ala Adjetey, the immediate past Speaker of Parliament and a leading member of the New Patriotic Party, died yesterday at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital after a short illness. He was 77.
Following news of his death, many people, including legal practitioners and politicians, have been pouring into his house at La, in Accra, to sympathise with the bereaved family.
His death came barely 12 days after he was decorated with the Order of the Star, a high national honour, by President J.A. Kufuor for his public service and contribution to the development of the Legislature in the country.
Novalis Gans-Lartey, a spokesman for the family, told the Times yesterday that Mr Adjetey was rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on Friday for medical attention following his deteriorating health.
He said news of the death reached the family at dawn yesterday.
The government has expressed shock at Mr Ala Adjetey’s death.
A release signed by Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President, said "the nation has lost a great man who served at the highest level with devotion and commitment."
He said Mr Adjetey will be remembered for the leadership he provided as Speaker of Parliament during the first term of President Kufuor’s Administration and indeed in all other areas he served."As the government strives to come to terms with the loss of Mr Adjetey, an accomplished lawyer, astitute politician and a statesman, it considers it a duty to express on behalf of the nation, and on his own behalf, condolences to the bereaved family in this difficult period," the release said.
The Ghana Bar Association described the death as a great loss to the association.
"We have lost a brilliant, stalwart and legal brain who fought for the entrenchment of the rule of law and democracy," Nii Osa Mills, GBA president, told the Times, and added that members of the association admire the former Speaker’s commitment to the growth of the legal profession.
He said the GBA would miss him for his tenacity in pushing ideas and ability to persuade people to accept what he believes in.
The NPP said the death is a big blow to the party and the nation as a whole.
Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary said Mr. Adjetey was a legal luminary whose contribution had helped in shaping the political and legal landscape of the country.
"It is impossible for the political history of the party and the country to be written without the mention of his name," he said.
The National Democratic Congress for its part, said it received the news with shock.
The party’s General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, described the former Speaker as "a brilliant man of integrity who believed in the supremacy of Parliament."
Mr. Adjetey, born August 11, 1931, was the second Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana in the Fourth Republic.
The affable lawyer and politician, known for his baritone voice in shouting Order!, Order, in Parliament, endeared himself to both sides of the House, with his impartial approach to issues.
Mr Adjetey, a prominent son of La, Accra, obtained his basic education at St. Paul’s School at La and the Accra Bishop Boys’ School.
He had his secondary education at Accra Academy from where he proceeded to the University College of the Gold Coast (now the University of Ghana), where he obtained the University of London intermediate Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954.
He then proceeded to the United Kingdom, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nottingham in 1958.
Mr. Adjetey was called to the Bar at Middle Temple in London in 1959, returned to Ghana the same year and was called to the Bar in Ghana.
He was the president of the Ghana Bar Association from 1986 to1989.
On the political scene, he was a founding member of the New Patriotic Party and the party’s chairman from 1995 to1998.
Mr. Adjetey was the President of the African Bar Association in 2000.
Meanwhile, Salifu Abdul-Rahaman & Samuel Nuamah report that Members of Parliament yesterday expressed grief over the death of the former Speaker.
Although the issue of his death did not come up on the floor of the House, a number of MPs who spoke to the Times, described the death as a great loss to the rule of law and democracy in the country.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alban Bagbin, said the intelligence and articulation of the former Speaker at international conferences had won the admiration of many Speakers of Parliament.
"He was very intelligent and meticulous in his work. These attributes of him have made us proud," he said.
"Though we knew he was not well for sometime, we did not know that things will turn bad within a short time. We have lost a genius," he added.
Mr Bagbin said Mr Adjetey’s death was not only a loss to his family but to the country as a whole.
Kwame Osei Prempeh, (NPP-Nsuta Kwamang Beposo and Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice), described Mr Adjetey as a champion of democracy and the rule of law adding he was a genius.and Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice), described Mr Adjetey as a champion of democracy and the rule of law adding he was a genius.
He said Mr Adjetey exhibited "a mark of excellence in his work. "He brought all his expertise to bear on Parliament; he never compromised on mediocrity and never fear to speak the truth."
Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, (NPP-Suame and Deputy Majority Leader and Minister of State), described Mr Adjetey’s death as a "tragic loss" not only to his family but to all adherents of democratic governance.and Deputy Majority Leader and Minister of State), described Mr Adjetey’s death as a "tragic loss" not only to his family but to all adherents of democratic governance.
Recalling some fond memories of the former Speaker, Mr Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said he was a strict disciplinarian who brought quality to bear on the work of Parliament.
"He worked to strengthen the institution of Parliament," he said and added that the late Mr Adjetey was impartial in his rulings on issues in Parliament.
Ms Cecilia Dapaah, (NPP-Bantama and Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing), told the Times that "it is shocking that such a vibrant, good servant of Ghana should die."
She said on the political front, the country has lost a giant emphasising, "Mr Adjetey was a mentor to some of us in good governance and leadership.
Expressing her condolences to the bereaved family, Ms Dapaah said, "Mr Adjetey was a father to all of us; his memory will continue to inspire us."
Moses Asaga, NDC-Nabdam said Mr Adjetey’s departure was a big blow to the country adding that during Mr Adjetey tenure, he tried to reform Parliament by working to improve upon the conditions of service of MPs and the work of the legislature.
Mr Asaga said, Mr Adjetey gave the Minority enough room to share their views on issues of national importance and interest.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Peter Ala Adjetey, the immediate past Speaker of Parliament and a leading member of the New Patriotic Party, died yesterday at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital after a short illness. He was 77.
Following news of his death, many people, including legal practitioners and politicians, have been pouring into his house at La, in Accra, to sympathise with the bereaved family.
His death came barely 12 days after he was decorated with the Order of the Star, a high national honour, by President J.A. Kufuor for his public service and contribution to the development of the Legislature in the country.
Novalis Gans-Lartey, a spokesman for the family, told the Times yesterday that Mr Adjetey was rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on Friday for medical attention following his deteriorating health.
He said news of the death reached the family at dawn yesterday.
The government has expressed shock at Mr Ala Adjetey’s death.
A release signed by Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President, said "the nation has lost a great man who served at the highest level with devotion and commitment."
He said Mr Adjetey will be remembered for the leadership he provided as Speaker of Parliament during the first term of President Kufuor’s Administration and indeed in all other areas he served."As the government strives to come to terms with the loss of Mr Adjetey, an accomplished lawyer, astitute politician and a statesman, it considers it a duty to express on behalf of the nation, and on his own behalf, condolences to the bereaved family in this difficult period," the release said.
The Ghana Bar Association described the death as a great loss to the association.
"We have lost a brilliant, stalwart and legal brain who fought for the entrenchment of the rule of law and democracy," Nii Osa Mills, GBA president, told the Times, and added that members of the association admire the former Speaker’s commitment to the growth of the legal profession.
He said the GBA would miss him for his tenacity in pushing ideas and ability to persuade people to accept what he believes in.
The NPP said the death is a big blow to the party and the nation as a whole.
Nana Ohene Ntow, General Secretary said Mr. Adjetey was a legal luminary whose contribution had helped in shaping the political and legal landscape of the country.
"It is impossible for the political history of the party and the country to be written without the mention of his name," he said.
The National Democratic Congress for its part, said it received the news with shock.
The party’s General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, described the former Speaker as "a brilliant man of integrity who believed in the supremacy of Parliament."
Mr. Adjetey, born August 11, 1931, was the second Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana in the Fourth Republic.
The affable lawyer and politician, known for his baritone voice in shouting Order!, Order, in Parliament, endeared himself to both sides of the House, with his impartial approach to issues.
Mr Adjetey, a prominent son of La, Accra, obtained his basic education at St. Paul’s School at La and the Accra Bishop Boys’ School.
He had his secondary education at Accra Academy from where he proceeded to the University College of the Gold Coast (now the University of Ghana), where he obtained the University of London intermediate Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954.
He then proceeded to the United Kingdom, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nottingham in 1958.
Mr. Adjetey was called to the Bar at Middle Temple in London in 1959, returned to Ghana the same year and was called to the Bar in Ghana.
He was the president of the Ghana Bar Association from 1986 to1989.
On the political scene, he was a founding member of the New Patriotic Party and the party’s chairman from 1995 to1998.
Mr. Adjetey was the President of the African Bar Association in 2000.
Meanwhile, Salifu Abdul-Rahaman & Samuel Nuamah report that Members of Parliament yesterday expressed grief over the death of the former Speaker.
Although the issue of his death did not come up on the floor of the House, a number of MPs who spoke to the Times, described the death as a great loss to the rule of law and democracy in the country.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alban Bagbin, said the intelligence and articulation of the former Speaker at international conferences had won the admiration of many Speakers of Parliament.
"He was very intelligent and meticulous in his work. These attributes of him have made us proud," he said.
"Though we knew he was not well for sometime, we did not know that things will turn bad within a short time. We have lost a genius," he added.
Mr Bagbin said Mr Adjetey’s death was not only a loss to his family but to the country as a whole.
Kwame Osei Prempeh, (NPP-Nsuta Kwamang Beposo and Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice), described Mr Adjetey as a champion of democracy and the rule of law adding he was a genius.and Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice), described Mr Adjetey as a champion of democracy and the rule of law adding he was a genius.
He said Mr Adjetey exhibited "a mark of excellence in his work. "He brought all his expertise to bear on Parliament; he never compromised on mediocrity and never fear to speak the truth."
Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, (NPP-Suame and Deputy Majority Leader and Minister of State), described Mr Adjetey’s death as a "tragic loss" not only to his family but to all adherents of democratic governance.and Deputy Majority Leader and Minister of State), described Mr Adjetey’s death as a "tragic loss" not only to his family but to all adherents of democratic governance.
Recalling some fond memories of the former Speaker, Mr Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said he was a strict disciplinarian who brought quality to bear on the work of Parliament.
"He worked to strengthen the institution of Parliament," he said and added that the late Mr Adjetey was impartial in his rulings on issues in Parliament.
Ms Cecilia Dapaah, (NPP-Bantama and Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing), told the Times that "it is shocking that such a vibrant, good servant of Ghana should die."
She said on the political front, the country has lost a giant emphasising, "Mr Adjetey was a mentor to some of us in good governance and leadership.
Expressing her condolences to the bereaved family, Ms Dapaah said, "Mr Adjetey was a father to all of us; his memory will continue to inspire us."
Moses Asaga, NDC-Nabdam said Mr Adjetey’s departure was a big blow to the country adding that during Mr Adjetey tenure, he tried to reform Parliament by working to improve upon the conditions of service of MPs and the work of the legislature.
Mr Asaga said, Mr Adjetey gave the Minority enough room to share their views on issues of national importance and interest.
France Confident Of Ghana’s Electoral System
By Edmund Mingle
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
France says it has confidence in Ghana’s electoral process, and is optimistic that the December general election will be credible.
"We are very confident of the Ghanaian democratic system," Pierre Jacquemot, the outgoing French Ambassador, said in Accra on Monday.
Speaking to reporters at his residence prior to the celebration on the French National Day also known as Bastille Day, on July 14, Mr. Jacquemot said "Ghana remains a strategic interest to France."
July 14 is celebrated annually to commemorate the day France gained her freedom from oppressive monarchy rule in 1789.
"Ghana is a place to be for economic and commercial purposes because of her fast growing economy," he said, adding that France’s confidence in the Ghanaian economy, was indicated of the increasing number of the French businesses and investments in the country.
Currently, there are 60 French companies, including 20 large ones, operating in Ghana, France contributing over 50 million dollars in development aid to Ghana from 2007 to 2009.
"This means Ghana is a profitable destination for business," he said.
In 2007, French exports to Ghana reached 225.7million euros, while Ghana’s exports to France, comprising timber and agro-processed products, amounted to 191 million euros.
Imports from France include energy products, heavy equipment for the mining sector, agro-products and consumer goods.
Later, proposing the toast at the celebration Bastille Day reception in the evening, Mr. Jacquemot thanked the government of Ghana for the cooperation in handling development issues, saying both countries share a common vision of improving the welfare of their citizenry, as well as promoting world peace.
He gave the assurance that France would continue to assist Ghana in various sectors of the economy, saying the French Development Agency is already spearheading a number of projects in the education, water, environment and health sectors.
Responding to the toast on behalf of the government, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Finance and Economic Planning Minister, conveyed the good wishes of Ghana to the government and people of France on the commemoration of their national day.
"Ghana and France share the same values of freedom which have been the basis of our relations since 1957," Mr. Baah-Wiredu said.
He expressed the government’s gratitude to France for assistance in funding various projects in the country, and pledged Ghana’s commitment to bilateral relations between both countries.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
France says it has confidence in Ghana’s electoral process, and is optimistic that the December general election will be credible.
"We are very confident of the Ghanaian democratic system," Pierre Jacquemot, the outgoing French Ambassador, said in Accra on Monday.
Speaking to reporters at his residence prior to the celebration on the French National Day also known as Bastille Day, on July 14, Mr. Jacquemot said "Ghana remains a strategic interest to France."
July 14 is celebrated annually to commemorate the day France gained her freedom from oppressive monarchy rule in 1789.
"Ghana is a place to be for economic and commercial purposes because of her fast growing economy," he said, adding that France’s confidence in the Ghanaian economy, was indicated of the increasing number of the French businesses and investments in the country.
Currently, there are 60 French companies, including 20 large ones, operating in Ghana, France contributing over 50 million dollars in development aid to Ghana from 2007 to 2009.
"This means Ghana is a profitable destination for business," he said.
In 2007, French exports to Ghana reached 225.7million euros, while Ghana’s exports to France, comprising timber and agro-processed products, amounted to 191 million euros.
Imports from France include energy products, heavy equipment for the mining sector, agro-products and consumer goods.
Later, proposing the toast at the celebration Bastille Day reception in the evening, Mr. Jacquemot thanked the government of Ghana for the cooperation in handling development issues, saying both countries share a common vision of improving the welfare of their citizenry, as well as promoting world peace.
He gave the assurance that France would continue to assist Ghana in various sectors of the economy, saying the French Development Agency is already spearheading a number of projects in the education, water, environment and health sectors.
Responding to the toast on behalf of the government, Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Finance and Economic Planning Minister, conveyed the good wishes of Ghana to the government and people of France on the commemoration of their national day.
"Ghana and France share the same values of freedom which have been the basis of our relations since 1957," Mr. Baah-Wiredu said.
He expressed the government’s gratitude to France for assistance in funding various projects in the country, and pledged Ghana’s commitment to bilateral relations between both countries.
NII GA TO FACE COMMITTEE
By Edmund Mingle, Dodowa
Monday, 21 July 2008
The Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs on Friday directed the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah III, to open his defence in a case in which his nomination and installation is being challenged
This was after the committee's panel, chaired by Nii Tetteh Otu II, president of the House, turned down a “submission of no case” filed by the Ga Mantse.
Sitting was adjourned to Friday, July 25, for him to open his defence.
Nii Owula Kpakpa Blofonyo, Ga State Akwashong Mantse (supreme warrior), is challenging the election, nomination and installatiion of Dr. Jo Blankson as Ga Mantse. "From the submission made by the petitioner, the respondent has a case to answer," Samuel Klayson, counsel for the Judicial Committee directed as the panel rejected the submission of no case filed by the Ga Manste on November 23, 2007.
The ruling against the submission means that Nii Tackie Tawiah would have to appear in person at the committee’s sitting to open his defence.
The Ga Mantse has been represented by others at the hearing in this and three other cases challenging his claim to the Ga Paramount Stool since hearing started more than a year ago. In the motion for no case, his counsel, Willie Amarfio, had challenged the capacity of Nii Blofonyo in instituting the case against his client, arguing that Nii Blofonyo is neither the Ga State Akwashong Mantse nor a kingmaker.
But Adu Gyamfi Boadu, counsel for Nii Blofonyo, had argued that Nii Blofonyo is both the Asere Akwashongtse and Ga State Akwashong Mantse, who has a vital role in the nomination and installation of Ga Mantse.
He said his non-involvement in the installation of Dr. Blankson, is contrary to Ga custom, and therefore makes the installation illegal.
Citing legal authorities such as ‘Nsiah versus Ameyaw II’ at the Court of Appeal (1994), and ‘Brobbey and others versus Kwaku and another’ at the Supreme Court (1995), counsel further argued that even if Nii Blofonyo was not a kingmaker, he was an "interested party" whose petition should be upheld.
Nii Akropong III, head of Teiko Tsuru We and Nuumo Tete, Nai Wulomo (Ga Chief Priest) are attached to the suit for their roles in the nomination and installation of Dr. Blankson.
The panel is yet to rule on a motion for interlocutory injunction which was filed in October last year by Nii Yaya Arday, head of Abola Piam We, one of the four ruling houses in Ga Mashie, seeking the committee’s order to restrain the Ga Traditional Council from allowing Dr Blankson to act as Ga Mantse until the final determination of another case in which Nii Arday is challenging the election, nomination and installation of Dr. Blankson as Ga Mantse.
The committee was expected to give its ruling last week but it did not sit.
Bright Akwetey, counsel for Nii Ardey, had argued that Dr Blankson's continuous acting as Ga Mantse is detrimental to the outcome of the case, adding that because the substantive suit is challenging the very basis for his kingship, it is important that he is restrained.
Meanwhile, a letter from the Registrar of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs addressed to David Tackie Komme, Principal Elder of Ga Dzase, (the kingmaking body), indicates that the name of King Tackie Tawiah III is not in the House's records as Ga Mantse.
"I wish to state that the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs has not received any CD forms in respect of King Tackie Tawiah III for any necessary action,"said the letter dated July 30, 2007 and signed by Ms Dorothy Adams for the Registrar of the House.
The letter was in response to enquiries by the Dzase of the status of King Tackie Tawiah in the register of chiefs.
Monday, 21 July 2008
The Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs on Friday directed the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah III, to open his defence in a case in which his nomination and installation is being challenged
This was after the committee's panel, chaired by Nii Tetteh Otu II, president of the House, turned down a “submission of no case” filed by the Ga Mantse.
Sitting was adjourned to Friday, July 25, for him to open his defence.
Nii Owula Kpakpa Blofonyo, Ga State Akwashong Mantse (supreme warrior), is challenging the election, nomination and installatiion of Dr. Jo Blankson as Ga Mantse. "From the submission made by the petitioner, the respondent has a case to answer," Samuel Klayson, counsel for the Judicial Committee directed as the panel rejected the submission of no case filed by the Ga Manste on November 23, 2007.
The ruling against the submission means that Nii Tackie Tawiah would have to appear in person at the committee’s sitting to open his defence.
The Ga Mantse has been represented by others at the hearing in this and three other cases challenging his claim to the Ga Paramount Stool since hearing started more than a year ago. In the motion for no case, his counsel, Willie Amarfio, had challenged the capacity of Nii Blofonyo in instituting the case against his client, arguing that Nii Blofonyo is neither the Ga State Akwashong Mantse nor a kingmaker.
But Adu Gyamfi Boadu, counsel for Nii Blofonyo, had argued that Nii Blofonyo is both the Asere Akwashongtse and Ga State Akwashong Mantse, who has a vital role in the nomination and installation of Ga Mantse.
He said his non-involvement in the installation of Dr. Blankson, is contrary to Ga custom, and therefore makes the installation illegal.
Citing legal authorities such as ‘Nsiah versus Ameyaw II’ at the Court of Appeal (1994), and ‘Brobbey and others versus Kwaku and another’ at the Supreme Court (1995), counsel further argued that even if Nii Blofonyo was not a kingmaker, he was an "interested party" whose petition should be upheld.
Nii Akropong III, head of Teiko Tsuru We and Nuumo Tete, Nai Wulomo (Ga Chief Priest) are attached to the suit for their roles in the nomination and installation of Dr. Blankson.
The panel is yet to rule on a motion for interlocutory injunction which was filed in October last year by Nii Yaya Arday, head of Abola Piam We, one of the four ruling houses in Ga Mashie, seeking the committee’s order to restrain the Ga Traditional Council from allowing Dr Blankson to act as Ga Mantse until the final determination of another case in which Nii Arday is challenging the election, nomination and installation of Dr. Blankson as Ga Mantse.
The committee was expected to give its ruling last week but it did not sit.
Bright Akwetey, counsel for Nii Ardey, had argued that Dr Blankson's continuous acting as Ga Mantse is detrimental to the outcome of the case, adding that because the substantive suit is challenging the very basis for his kingship, it is important that he is restrained.
Meanwhile, a letter from the Registrar of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs addressed to David Tackie Komme, Principal Elder of Ga Dzase, (the kingmaking body), indicates that the name of King Tackie Tawiah III is not in the House's records as Ga Mantse.
"I wish to state that the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs has not received any CD forms in respect of King Tackie Tawiah III for any necessary action,"said the letter dated July 30, 2007 and signed by Ms Dorothy Adams for the Registrar of the House.
The letter was in response to enquiries by the Dzase of the status of King Tackie Tawiah in the register of chiefs.
NII GA TO FACE COMMITTEE
From Edmund Mingle, Dodowa
Monday, 21 July 2008
The Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs on Friday directed the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah III, to open his defence in a case in which his nomination and installation is being challenged
This was after the committee's panel, chaired by Nii Tetteh Otu II, president of the House, turned down a “submission of no case” filed by the Ga Mantse.
Sitting was adjourned to Friday, July 25, for him to open his defence.
Nii Owula Kpakpa Blofonyo, Ga State Akwashong Mantse (supreme warrior), is challenging the election, nomination and installatiion of Dr. Jo Blankson as Ga Mantse. "From the submission made by the petitioner, the respondent has a case to answer," Samuel Klayson, counsel for the Judicial Committee directed as the panel rejected the submission of no case filed by the Ga Manste on November 23, 2007.
The ruling against the submission means that Nii Tackie Tawiah would have to appear in person at the committee’s sitting to open his defence.
The Ga Mantse has been represented by others at the hearing in this and three other cases challenging his claim to the Ga Paramount Stool since hearing started more than a year ago. In the motion for no case, his counsel, Willie Amarfio, had challenged the capacity of Nii Blofonyo in instituting the case against his client, arguing that Nii Blofonyo is neither the Ga State Akwashong Mantse nor a kingmaker.
But Adu Gyamfi Boadu, counsel for Nii Blofonyo, had argued that Nii Blofonyo is both the Asere Akwashongtse and Ga State Akwashong Mantse, who has a vital role in the nomination and installation of Ga Mantse.
He said his non-involvement in the installation of Dr. Blankson, is contrary to Ga custom, and therefore makes the installation illegal.
Citing legal authorities such as ‘Nsiah versus Ameyaw II’ at the Court of Appeal (1994), and ‘Brobbey and others versus Kwaku and another’ at the Supreme Court (1995), counsel further argued that even if Nii Blofonyo was not a kingmaker, he was an "interested party" whose petition should be upheld.
Nii Akropong III, head of Teiko Tsuru We and Nuumo Tete, Nai Wulomo (Ga Chief Priest) are attached to the suit for their roles in the nomination and installation of Dr. Blankson.
The panel is yet to rule on a motion for interlocutory injunction which was filed in October last year by Nii Yaya Arday, head of Abola Piam We, one of the four ruling houses in Ga Mashie, seeking the committee’s order to restrain the Ga Traditional Council from allowing Dr Blankson to act as Ga Mantse until the final determination of another case in which Nii Arday is challenging the election, nomination and installation of Dr. Blankson as Ga Mantse.
The committee was expected to give its ruling last week but it did not sit.
Bright Akwetey, counsel for Nii Ardey, had argued that Dr Blankson's continuous acting as Ga Mantse is detrimental to the outcome of the case, adding that because the substantive suit is challenging the very basis for his kingship, it is important that he is restrained.
Meanwhile, a letter from the Registrar of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs addressed to David Tackie Komme, Principal Elder of Ga Dzase, (the kingmaking body), indicates that the name of King Tackie Tawiah III is not in the House's records as Ga Mantse.
"I wish to state that the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs has not received any CD forms in respect of King Tackie Tawiah III for any necessary action,"said the letter dated July 30, 2007 and signed by Ms Dorothy Adams for the Registrar of the House.
The letter was in response to enquiries by the Dzase of the status of King Tackie Tawiah in the register of chiefs.
Monday, 21 July 2008
The Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs on Friday directed the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah III, to open his defence in a case in which his nomination and installation is being challenged
This was after the committee's panel, chaired by Nii Tetteh Otu II, president of the House, turned down a “submission of no case” filed by the Ga Mantse.
Sitting was adjourned to Friday, July 25, for him to open his defence.
Nii Owula Kpakpa Blofonyo, Ga State Akwashong Mantse (supreme warrior), is challenging the election, nomination and installatiion of Dr. Jo Blankson as Ga Mantse. "From the submission made by the petitioner, the respondent has a case to answer," Samuel Klayson, counsel for the Judicial Committee directed as the panel rejected the submission of no case filed by the Ga Manste on November 23, 2007.
The ruling against the submission means that Nii Tackie Tawiah would have to appear in person at the committee’s sitting to open his defence.
The Ga Mantse has been represented by others at the hearing in this and three other cases challenging his claim to the Ga Paramount Stool since hearing started more than a year ago. In the motion for no case, his counsel, Willie Amarfio, had challenged the capacity of Nii Blofonyo in instituting the case against his client, arguing that Nii Blofonyo is neither the Ga State Akwashong Mantse nor a kingmaker.
But Adu Gyamfi Boadu, counsel for Nii Blofonyo, had argued that Nii Blofonyo is both the Asere Akwashongtse and Ga State Akwashong Mantse, who has a vital role in the nomination and installation of Ga Mantse.
He said his non-involvement in the installation of Dr. Blankson, is contrary to Ga custom, and therefore makes the installation illegal.
Citing legal authorities such as ‘Nsiah versus Ameyaw II’ at the Court of Appeal (1994), and ‘Brobbey and others versus Kwaku and another’ at the Supreme Court (1995), counsel further argued that even if Nii Blofonyo was not a kingmaker, he was an "interested party" whose petition should be upheld.
Nii Akropong III, head of Teiko Tsuru We and Nuumo Tete, Nai Wulomo (Ga Chief Priest) are attached to the suit for their roles in the nomination and installation of Dr. Blankson.
The panel is yet to rule on a motion for interlocutory injunction which was filed in October last year by Nii Yaya Arday, head of Abola Piam We, one of the four ruling houses in Ga Mashie, seeking the committee’s order to restrain the Ga Traditional Council from allowing Dr Blankson to act as Ga Mantse until the final determination of another case in which Nii Arday is challenging the election, nomination and installation of Dr. Blankson as Ga Mantse.
The committee was expected to give its ruling last week but it did not sit.
Bright Akwetey, counsel for Nii Ardey, had argued that Dr Blankson's continuous acting as Ga Mantse is detrimental to the outcome of the case, adding that because the substantive suit is challenging the very basis for his kingship, it is important that he is restrained.
Meanwhile, a letter from the Registrar of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs addressed to David Tackie Komme, Principal Elder of Ga Dzase, (the kingmaking body), indicates that the name of King Tackie Tawiah III is not in the House's records as Ga Mantse.
"I wish to state that the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs has not received any CD forms in respect of King Tackie Tawiah III for any necessary action,"said the letter dated July 30, 2007 and signed by Ms Dorothy Adams for the Registrar of the House.
The letter was in response to enquiries by the Dzase of the status of King Tackie Tawiah in the register of chiefs.
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