Court Of Appeal Throws Out Appeal By 10 Apostles

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an application which prayed it to quash a perpetual injunction imposed on 10 reverend ministers of the Apostles Revelation Church (ARS).

The Fast Track High Court in Accra, in March, 2010, restrained the 10 Apostles from interfering with the management of the church but the dissatisfied apostles filed an appeal against the decision of the High Court.

In a unanimous decision, the Court of Appeal held that upon hearing the arguments from counsel for the Apostles/appellants and the plaintiffs/respondents, it was of the opinion that the application was of no merit.

It accordingly dismissed the appeal and awarded cost of GH¢1,000 against the 10 apostles in favour of the respondents.

The respondents are Benjamin Adika and Charles Kwami Dziworm Agbolosoo.

The lower court on March 17, 2010, restrained the apostles from organising or interfering with the organisation of the 70th anniversary of the church in their own names or in the name of the 'College of Apostles'.

They are Rev. Apostle Matthew Akunor, Rev. Apostle A.N.Tehn-Addy, Rev. Apostle C.M.K. Dovlo, Rev. Apostle L.K.. Nutsuako, Rev. Apostle C.K.Attipoe, Rev. Apostle J.G.Fummey and Rev. Apostle R.K. Akpenyo.

The lower court slapped the apostles, who never entered an appearance with a GH¢1,000 cost.

The High Court also ruled that the purported delegates conference of the ARS held on November 12, 2009, had been in breach of the church's constitution and was, therefore, null and void.

Furthermore, it held that the defendants' 'College of Apostles' had no constitutional mandate or authority to organise the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the church, among other things.

The statement of claim filed on behalf of Messrs Adika and Agbolosoo stated among others that Article 4 of the church’s constitution entrusted its direction and management in the general conference, the executive committee of the general conference, district councils and local committees.

“Prior to his death in 1999, the Founder, Mawu Fe Ame Wovenu, transferred all the defendants to various circuits of the church and even though they acknowledged the transfers and proceeded to their new stations, they reneged on their commitment to the transfers upon the death of the Founder and rather planted themselves at the international headquarters of the church at New Tadzewu,” the statement of claim pointed out.

It said the apostles had constituted themselves into a group called “College of Apostles” in the church and had used and continued to use that group to perpetrate several acts unwarranted by the constitution, the bye-laws and practices of the church.

“The group calling itself “College of Apostles” has, since the demise of the founder in April 1999, disturbed the peace and made countless efforts to change the tenets and established orders of the church,” the statement further averred.