High Court convicts Osu Mankralo for contempt

Accra, June 6, GNA - The Accra High Court, presided over by Mr Justice E.F. Dzakpasu has found the Osu Mankralo, Nii Ako Nortei IV guilty of contempt and sentenced him to a fine of 5,000 Ghana cedis. He is to pay the fine in two days from the day of judgement or in default serve 14 days' imprisonment.

The Court admitted him to a self-cognisance bail of 10,000 GH cedis bail and awarded a cost of 500 Ghana cedis to the applicant, Nii Nortey Owuo III, Osu Mantse, who brought the application for a joint and several order of committal of six people for contempt of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court rulings on the Osu chieftaincy dispute that had upheld his status as the chief.

Those against whom the action was commenced are Nii Ako Nortey IV, Nii Nortey Omaboe III, Nii Saban Atsen VI, Nuumo Narku Agbeti, Mr. Michael Okwei Dowuona and Mr. Lawrence Quist.

The Osu Mantse had said the six were the principal architects or participants in the enstoolment of Mr. Michael Okwei Dowuona as the new Osu Mantse as was announced by Mr. Quist and they did so in contempt of the orders of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

The Court said it could not find the five others liable and accordingly acquitted and discharged them. It held that the decision of the Appeal Court and High Court meant that the Osu Stool was not vacant.

Nii Ako Nortei IV, Nuumo Arku Agbeti and Mr Quist told the court that it was the kingmakers who installed chiefs and since they were not the kingmakers they did not install Mr Michael Dowuona who also explained that he was caught by force and installed. "With the exception of the first respondent (Nii Ako Nortei IV, Mankralo) whose actions I find to be disobedient to the decision of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in the matter and therefore liable in contempt and accordingly commit him, I find the other respondents not liable and accordingly acquit and discharge them," the judge said.