Chiefs Demand Mamponghene's Removal

A number of chiefs from the Asante- Mampong Traditional Council have petitioned the President of the National House of Chiefs, calling for the withdrawal of Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II, Mamponghene, as a representative of the House of Chiefs on the Judicial Council.

Nana Agyare Baffuor, Nwadan Abontenduahene; Nana Boachi Agyeman II, Mpiim Nsuasehene; Opanin Yaw Dankwah Mpanya Aboutendomhene; Benjamin Kwaku Owusu, Akyeremade, Youth Leader; Ebusua Opanin Kwame Amponsah, Oyoko Abusuapanyin Kyeremade-Mampong and Samuel Ofori (a concerned citizen) signed the petition dated September 11, this year.

The petition, copied to the Attorney General, the Asantehene, the Chief Justice and Nana Osei Bonsu himself, said the High Court of Ghana, sitting at Kumasi, had convicted the Mamponghene for criminal contempt in suit No. Misc 44/2000 and Misc58/2000. He was also involved in numerous civil suits.

The petitioners further stated that, presently, pending before the Asantehene was a petition by one Mrs. Rose Nyantakyi Mensah, who alleged that Nana Osei Bonsu had swindled her of the sum of $30,000 in connection with an alleged promise by him to make her a queen mother. Their petition followed a similar one to the Chief Justice last July.

The Chief Justice in a letter dated August 7, this year, signed by the Judicial Secretary, Mr. E. A. Owusu-Ansah, directed as follows: “I have instructions of His Lordship, the Chief Justice to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 10, 2003 and to inform you that since Nana Osei Bonsu II is the representative of the National House of Chiefs, it is the National House of Chiefs which can withdraw him from the Judicial Council. That letter with reference SCR/167/Vol. 8B was copied to the Attorney General, Chief Justice and the Asante Mamponghene.

The latest petition by the chiefs states in part:

* There is no doubt that the convictions for criminal contempt demonstrate the total lack of respect that Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II has for the Courts, the very institution he is supposed to support, safeguard and defend by virtue of his membership of the Judicial Council.

* That your humble petitioners are of the humble view that in view of his previous criminal convictions by the High Court, it can safely be assumed and concluded that he has lost the much needed respect and confidence required of a member of the Judicial Council.

* Besides, his generally acknowledged controversial style and nature, as evidenced by the numerous legal suits he finds himself engaged in and adverse news reports, casts a continuing slur on the integrity of the Judicial Council, of which he is a member and it is the considered view of your petitioners that, it would be safer for Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II to be relieved of his membership of the said august body.

* That on June 26, 2003, your humble petitioners organized a press conference and raised the issue of Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II, among others, and advised him to resign honourably from the Judicial Council.

* However, all indications pointed to the fact that he had neither the intention nor the desire to do so. In the circumstances, your humble petitioners petitioned His Lordship the Chief Justice in his capacity as chairman of the Judicial Council to use his good offices to remove Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II as a member of the Judicial Council.

* However, by a letter dated 7th August 2003, written in response to our said petition, His Lordship the Chief Justice directed or advised that we should rather lodge our petition with your august house, which nominated Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II to the Judicial Council.

* That we hereby take the opportunity to reiterate and renew our call for the removal of Daasebre Nana Osei Bonsu II as a member of the Judicial Council by requesting your august house to withdraw him as your representative to the Judicial Council and his replacement thereof by a more suitable representative.