Court dismisses contempt case against chief, queenmother
The Cape Coast High Court has dismissed a contempt case brought before it by an actor, Prince Ekow Freeman, against the Chief of Dompoase, Nana Ndur Kow V, and the Queenmother of Dompoase, Nana Simewuah IV.
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The court, presided over by Mr Justice Kwesi Dapaah, also awarded GH¢3,000 costs against Mr Freeman.
Mr Freeman sought the court to commit Nana Ndur and Nana Simewuah for contempt following the confinement and installation of Nana Ndur as chief of Dompoase in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem municipality in the Central Region.
Mr Justice Dapaah said the certiorari order filed by Mr Freeman sought to stop the Central Regional House of Chiefs from further investigating the case, contending that the enstoolment of Nana Ndur did not affect the certiorari before the High Court.
Mr Opoku Adjei, counsel for Nana Ndur, had earlier prayed the court to award costs of GH¢20,000 against Mr Freeman, saying the contempt case against Nana Ndur disrupted his doctoral studies abroad.
Background to case
Following the death of the chief of Dompoase in February, 2010, the Ebusuapayin and kingmakers of Dompoase met and decided on Nana Ndur, known in private life as Mr Samuel Nkyekyer, and informed him as having been nominated as the successor.
Mr Opoku Adjei said before Nana Ndur could be confined to begin the installation process, the head of family, Ebusuapayin Atta Payin, had nominated Mr Freeman.
The queenmother, Nana Simewuah, brought the issue before the Komenda Traditional Council but Mr Freeman filed a case at the Cape Coast High Court to stop the traditional council from hearing the case.
Mr Freeman together with the Ebusuapayin made plans for his installation.
Security Council
The case was referred to the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipal Security Council which also referred the matter to the Central Regional House of Chiefs.
The Central Regional House of Chiefs, after deliberations, decided that the enstoolment of Mr Freeman would bring chaos because he was not eligible to be a chief.
In 2013, the queenmother then went ahead to re-nominate Nana Ndur as chief, but again, Mr Freeman filed an order of certiorari to quash the decision of the Central Regional House of Chiefs to stop the House from investigating the matter.
The queenmother and elders, however, went ahead to confine and enstool Nana Ndur as the chief.
Mr Freeman went to court again and brought an application of contempt against Nana Ndur and Nana Simewuah IV.