Commit GFA to contempt – Nene Djan III

Lawyers for Nene Tetteh Djan III, Paramount Chief of Prampram, would on June 24, move a motion for contempt against members of Ghana Football Association (GFA) at the Tema High Court.

This follows the inability of the association to obey orders of the court entered by it on April 6, 2004, in the terms of settlement on the 100 acres of land released to the GFA for the construction of the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence at Prampram.

A copy of the suit filed by Mr J. Ayikoi Otoo, Counsel for the applicant, made available to the Ghana News Agency stated Kwesi Nyantakyi, Fred Pappoe, Randy Abbey, Owuahene Nyamekpye, Fred Crentsil, George Afriyie and Oti Akenten as respondents.

An affidavit in support of the suit said in 2004, the applicant caused a writ to be instituted against the GFA and the Attorney-General as a nominal defendant.

It said the case was settled and terms of settlement were duly signed and adopted as judgment of the court, after which counsel for the applicant filed an entry of judgement’ and served on the defendants.

“When we heard nothing from them, my counsel then went back to court for an order to compel the Ghana Football Association to comply with the terms of settlement, which order was made on July 3, 2008, by His Lordship Gyamera Tawia.”

It said the GH? 30 million costs awarded against the respondents has dully been paid.

The affidavit averred that to date, the respondents have failed to surrender the lease agreement previously made between them and the Mankralo of Prampram Traditional Area, for a new lease agreement between the two parties to be delivered.

“I say that the respondents herein have willfully disobeyed and showed disrespect to this honourable court by refusing to surrender the lease agreement as ordered by the court”, the affidavit said, adding that by their conduct, they have lowered the court and brought it into disrepute and disrespect.

“The only thing that this court can do to restore its image is to commit all the respondents to prison until they purge themselves of contempt,” it said.

Giving the background of the issue, Nene Djan told the GNA that he instituted the suit when it came to his notice that the Mankralo of the Pampram Traditional Area allegedly connived with one Duke Abbey to issue an invoice and lease agreement to the GFA without his knowledge.

He explained that even though he released the 100 acres of land, which forms part of a 650- acre land under his name, the issuance of the lease agreement is dubiously done without his consent and some monies paid by the GFA for ground works did not get to him or the traditional council.