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Nene Djangmah Wins Ningo Stool Case

Fri, 13 Jun 1997 Source: --

Accra, - 11 June The Supreme Court today ruled that Nene Narh Djangmah Osrago the third is the rightful occupant of the Ningo stool. The court was giving its judgement in an appeal filed by Nene Addo Huago the fifth against the judgement of the Chieftaincy Tribunal of the National House of Chiefs which ruled that Nene Osrago was the legitimate occupant of the stool. Four of the five-member panel - Mr Justice E.K. Wiredu, presiding, Mr Justice A.K.B. Ampiah, Mr Justice E.D.K. Adjebeng and Mr Justice William Atuguba - were unanimous in their verdict in favour of Nene Osrago. The fifth member, Mr Justice F.Y. Kpegah, was not present on the panel because of illness and the court announced that his verdict will be filed when available. The court awarded two million cedis cost against the appellants. Mr Amarkai Amarteifio was the attorney for Nene Osrago while Mr Enoch D. Kom represented Nene Huago. Mr Justice Wiredu who read the judgement, said the ruling of the National House of Chiefs should not be disturbed because it complied with all the conditions for the destoolment and enstoolment of a traditional ruler. He said it is on record that Nene Osrago was enstooled as the Paramount Chief of Great Ningo in 1972 but as a result of litigation and trouble thereafter, wrote a letter abdicating in 1983. Mr Justice Wiredu said it is in evidence that an acceptance letter dated August 25, 1983 was written by one Nene Marwetey Akrotia the third, Oman Stool father, ''who styled himself as Oman Seitse in Ningo''. Mr Justice Wiredu said it is also on record that the head of family and some family members persuaded Nene Osrago to withdraw his letter which he did at a time the stool was still vacant. The judge said dissatisfied with the return of Nene Osrago, the appellants sent the case to the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal which ruled in their favour. Mr Justice Wiredu said equally dissatisfied with the ruling of the committee, Nene Osrago appealed to the National House of Chiefs which ruled that since the traditional rites and rituals were not performed as Ningo custom demands, the abdication was not valid. He said the house was right to say that when Nene Osrago abdicated, it was not made known to the kingmakers and elders who mattered when the enstoolment took place. The judge said there are requirements and prerequisites in terms of traditional rituals which must be performed when a stool becomes vacant either by abdication or destoolment. Mr Justice Wiredu said it is on record that none of the requirements were met in order to validate the abdication of Nene Osrago. He accordingly dismissed the appeal. The contention of the appellants was that since Nene Osrago left the stool for sometime, traditionally he is not entitled to occupy it again.

Accra, - 11 June The Supreme Court today ruled that Nene Narh Djangmah Osrago the third is the rightful occupant of the Ningo stool. The court was giving its judgement in an appeal filed by Nene Addo Huago the fifth against the judgement of the Chieftaincy Tribunal of the National House of Chiefs which ruled that Nene Osrago was the legitimate occupant of the stool. Four of the five-member panel - Mr Justice E.K. Wiredu, presiding, Mr Justice A.K.B. Ampiah, Mr Justice E.D.K. Adjebeng and Mr Justice William Atuguba - were unanimous in their verdict in favour of Nene Osrago. The fifth member, Mr Justice F.Y. Kpegah, was not present on the panel because of illness and the court announced that his verdict will be filed when available. The court awarded two million cedis cost against the appellants. Mr Amarkai Amarteifio was the attorney for Nene Osrago while Mr Enoch D. Kom represented Nene Huago. Mr Justice Wiredu who read the judgement, said the ruling of the National House of Chiefs should not be disturbed because it complied with all the conditions for the destoolment and enstoolment of a traditional ruler. He said it is on record that Nene Osrago was enstooled as the Paramount Chief of Great Ningo in 1972 but as a result of litigation and trouble thereafter, wrote a letter abdicating in 1983. Mr Justice Wiredu said it is in evidence that an acceptance letter dated August 25, 1983 was written by one Nene Marwetey Akrotia the third, Oman Stool father, ''who styled himself as Oman Seitse in Ningo''. Mr Justice Wiredu said it is also on record that the head of family and some family members persuaded Nene Osrago to withdraw his letter which he did at a time the stool was still vacant. The judge said dissatisfied with the return of Nene Osrago, the appellants sent the case to the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional Tribunal which ruled in their favour. Mr Justice Wiredu said equally dissatisfied with the ruling of the committee, Nene Osrago appealed to the National House of Chiefs which ruled that since the traditional rites and rituals were not performed as Ningo custom demands, the abdication was not valid. He said the house was right to say that when Nene Osrago abdicated, it was not made known to the kingmakers and elders who mattered when the enstoolment took place. The judge said there are requirements and prerequisites in terms of traditional rituals which must be performed when a stool becomes vacant either by abdication or destoolment. Mr Justice Wiredu said it is on record that none of the requirements were met in order to validate the abdication of Nene Osrago. He accordingly dismissed the appeal. The contention of the appellants was that since Nene Osrago left the stool for sometime, traditionally he is not entitled to occupy it again.

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