Dorcas Afo Toffey
The Commercial Division of the Sekondi High Court has awarded a cost of GH¢5,000 against the Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Dorcas Afo-Toffey.
This was after the court struck out an application for contempt filed by one Joshua Emuah Kwofie against the MP.
Mr. Kwofie initiated the contempt proceedings against the MP after she allegedly failed to appear in court and provide documents on her renunciation of alleged dual citizenship before the December 7, 2020, Parliamentary elections.
This was after a Sekondi High Court hearing the substantive case had ordered the MP to produce the necessary documents on her alleged renunciation of her Ivorian citizenship but the MP purportedly failed to obey the court’s order.
However, on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, the MP appeared before the court and provided the documents on her alleged renunciation.
Counsel for the MP, Godwin Edudzi Tamekloe, therefore, pleaded with court to strike out the contempt case and asked for forgiveness because his client had no intentions to disrespect the orders of the court.
Lawyer for the Petitioner, Bright Okyere Agyekum, however, asked the court to award a cost of GH¢20,000 against the MP, for disobeying the orders of the court and wasting their time before striking out the contempt case.
Mr. Tamekloe pleaded that his client could afford GH¢5,000 because as he put it, “things are hard”
The court presided over by Justice Sedinam Agbemava, struck out the case and awarded a cost of Gh¢5,000 against the Jomoro MP.
Meanwhile, the Sekondi High Court presided over by Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere, has adjourned the substantive case to April 11, 2022, for Case Management Conference.
The court also directed both parties to file witness statements within 21days.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi