Judge can't sit on case for likelihood of bias - counsel

A counsel yesterday objected to the inclusion of Mr Justice A.K.B. Ampiah on the Supreme Court panel hearing contempt proceedings against Nana Oduro Numapau II, Essumejahene, and 15 others for allegedly disobeying a Kumasi High Court decision. Nana Numapau and the 15 others, all members of the research committee of the National House of Chiefs, had been sued for contempt for re-entering the name of Nana Worae II of Effiduase into the National Register of Chiefs without lawful authority. Mr Kwame Tetteh, counsel for Nana Osei Worae II, whose status as a chief is being challenged, said Mr Justice Ampiah had presided over an aspect of the Effiduase chieftaincy case at a Kumasi High Court in 1979 and issued an injunction against the respondent.