A Cape Coast High Court Judge, Justice K.K. Acquaye has allegedly turned down offers from a sitting Supreme Court judge and another person to decide a case in favour of a faction in the Mankessim chieftaincy dispute. The Supreme Court judge whose name was not disclosed and the other person described as a retired employee of GHACEM, Takoradi branch were said to have attempted to influence the High Court judge to rule on the case in favour of their client (Nana Amafu Adu).
But Justice Acquaye refused the offer. The attempt to influence the High Court judge followed a petition to the Chief Justice that was filed by Nana Ama Amissah, the purported queen mother of Mankessim on behalf of Nana Amafu Adu.
The petitioner had accused Justice Acquaye of bias and requested the transfer of the case to another court. Mr Acquaye who was expected to give his ruling in the case last Wednesday, decided to wait for the decision of the Chief Justice and thus could not rule on the case after he was served with a petition last Tuesday.
Justice Acquaye was reported to have said at the court that the very people who petitioned the Chief Justice had sent some people to influence him to rule in their favour. As a result of the revelation, a Cape Coast based lawyer, Barton Oduro has asked the Chief Justice to urgently set up a committee to investigate the allegation made by the High Court judge to establish the truth and bring the culprits to book.
When contacted, Justice Acquaye said that some people had contacted him to give judgement in the case in favour of those who petitioned the Chief Justice to transfer the case from his court. He, however did not disclose their names.
