Gomoa Ajumako Omanhene convicted for contempt

Cape Coast, Aug 22, GNA - The Cape Coast High Court presided over by Mr Justice Tom Bentil, has convicted the Omanhene of the Gomoa Ajumako Traditional Area, Nana Okatakyi Nyanfo Krampah X, to three months imprisonment with hard labour for contempt.

The court also sentenced S. E Arthur, Registrar of the Traditional Council, to six months imprisonment with hard labour for the same offence.

Nana Krampah and the Registrar were also fined 2 million cedis each.

Their conviction followed an Ex-Pate motion filed against them by Nana Kweku Otabil IX, Chief of Gomoa Abrekum and Krontihene of the Area. The court ordered them to pay a cost of 500,000 each as compensation to Nana Otabil.

The facts of the case were that on July 23 2000, the Cape Coast High Court made an order of prohibition against the convicts restraining them from giving judging in a case pending before Judicial Committee of the Traditional Council.

Notwithstanding, on 28 July 2000, the committee went ahead and gave judgement in the case and the Omanhene went ahead to install one Mr Kojo Dwomo, as Odikro of Gomoa Abrekum under the stool name of Nana Kweku Otabil X on August 1st 2000.

They also took steps to have the Central Regional House of Chiefs to gazette Nana Otabil X.

The court freed the judicial committee members because they acted upon the instructions of the Omanhene.

Lawyer Burton Oduro represented Nana Kwaku Otabil IX, while Mr Ebow Dawson both of Cape Coast also represented Nana Krampah and S.E.Arthur.