Shai Traditional Council dragged to court for contempt

The Paramount Chief of the Shai Traditional Area, Odeopeor Martey Kodjoe Awah IV, has dragged six members of the Shai Traditional Council to an Accra High Court for contempt, over its refusal to confirm him to the National House of Chiefs.

The members, who have been dragged before court for a contempt suit, include the acting President of the Shai Traditional Council, Nene Nornor Sordji V, Nene Agyeman Kukubour V, member of the Standing Committee of the Shai Traditional Council, and Nene Aku Djagbletey V, also a member.

The rest are Nene Paddy Narh Wayo I, member of the Standing Committee, Mankralo Okpor Tesa IV, also a member, and Jessey Okpoti, Registrar, Shai Traditional Council. The contempt suit follows their refusal to sign the necessary documents to enable the Paramount Chief be gazetted as such.

According to documents attached to his affidavit in support of his contempt suit, a ruling was given in March 2016, giving an order of mandamus, compelling the Shai Traditional council to process the application for his name to be placed on the Fegister of Chiefs at the National House of Chiefs.

According to Odeopeor Martey Kodjoe Awah IV, known in private life as Solomon Akwetey, although the Shai Traditional Council had been served with the court’s order instructing it to do due diligence, it failed to comply.

He added that the Shai Traditional Council was given a 10-day period to comply with the court order, but they flatly refused to execute it.

What happened in court

At the hearing in the General Jurisdiction High Court yesterday, the lawyer for the respondents (Shai Traditional Council) told the court that he had filed an affidavit in opposition.

The lawyer for the applicant, A.G Boadu, on his part, said he had not received any affidavit in opposition. The court, presided over by Justice Novisi Afua Aryene, adjourned the case to July 27, 2016, for hearing.