Odeopeor Martey Kodjoe Awah
Odeopeor Martey Kodjoe Awah IV, Paramount Chief of the Shai Traditional Area has once again dragged the Council before an Accra High Court for contempt of court.
This time around, lawyers of the chief want the court to commit Nene Nornor Sordji V, Acting President of the Council to prison for disobeying a court order instructing it to place the applicants name on the Register of the National House of Chiefs.
According to A-G Boadu, lawyer for the chief, the president of the Council in doing so had demoted his client who is the Paramount Chief of the area to the level of a Divisional Chief.
However, the motion could not be moved because the trial judge Justice Afua Norvisi Aryine was indisposed.
The hearing was adjourned until December 1, 2016.
The Chief, known in private life as Solomon Akwetey, Nene Sordji V also sued Nene Agyeman Kukubour V, Member of the Standing Committee of the Council; Nene Aku Djagbletey V; Nene Paddy Narh Wayo I; Mankralo Okopor Tesa IV, [members] and Jessey Okpoti, Registrar.
A-G Boadu, lawyer for the chief wants the court to commit the respondents for contempt and sentenced to “long prison sentences and ordered to process the application to the National House of Chiefs.”
Odeopeor’s Case
Odeopeor Awah IV said after his installation he made an application to the Shai Traditional Council for it to be processed to the National House of Chiefs for his name to be placed on the register of Chiefs.
He stated that he obtained a Mandamus order from the High Court compelling the council to process his application within 10 days.
The Shai Paramount Chief said although the respondents had been served with the order from the court, they flatly refused to respect the court’s order.
The applicant noted that the conduct of the applicants was calculated to undermine the authority of the court.
Opposition
Nii Akwei in the affidavit in opposition admitted that his clients had been served with the committal for contempt adding that “we have filed and sent to the Regional House of Chiefs Chieftaincy declaration forms concerning the applicant.”
He stated that the contempt application was misconceived and that Odeopeor Awah IV “should have conducted a search instead of taking this cavalier step.”
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson