Nkrabea nails DCE

Captain Nkrabea Effab-Dartey (rtd), 'counsel for NeneTeye Titriku I, in a contempt case filed against the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Manya Krobo, David Sackitey Asare, has nailed the DCE at an Accra High Court following the absence of the counsel for the DCE. Capt Effah-Dartey, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Berekum, prayed the High Court presided over by Justice E. Abodakpi to slap a GH¢2000 fine on the DCE. He told the court that the DCE was taking the court for granted, that was why he always lied to the court that his counsel was in another court. Earlier when the case was called, Hon. Sackitey prayed the court to step it down for his counsel to come. The case was recalled about 15 minutes later, after it was stepped down, but his counsel did not show up and this prompted Hon. Effah-Dartey to challenge the DCE that his behaviour was a deliberate attempt to delay proceedings since he knew well that the case against him was punishable by imprisonment. The DCE then stated that his counsel would appear in court in two minutes as he was on his way. The presiding judge then asked whether the DCE had anything to say regarding Hon Effah-Dartey's application to slap a GH¢2000 fine on him. Hon. Sackitey in response said he had to consult his lawyer. The Berekum MP then told Hon. Sackitey, whom he described as a friend, that he was not showing respect to the court. The court held the application of a fine against the ill DCE by slapping a GH¢300 fine on him. Nene Teye Titriku, the chief of Akuse and Suapolor of the Osuduku Traditional Council filed a motion of contempt against the DCE following a publication by the latter in the Friday October 26, 2007 edition of the Daily Graphic. In an affidavit in support of his motion, the chief stated that he and 30 other applicants brought an action in the High Court, seeking the declaration and interpretation of an existing law that Akuse is part of the Dangbe West District and while the case was ongoing, the Manya Krobo Traditional Council made an attempt to join in the suit. According to the chief, in his affidavit, the High Court ruled that the case was not about land and for that matter the Manya Krobo Traditional Council could not join it. Nene Titriku indicated in the motion that all of a sudden the Daily Graphic of Friday, October 26, 2007 reported that the respondent had stated that Akuse belongs to Manya Krobo. The chief contended that in the said publication the DCE rubbished the ongoing suit with very bad invectives. In the affidavit he stated that when he wrote to Hon. Sackitey to give him an opportunity to refute the report in the media, his request was ignored. According to the Akuse Chief, if the report was made to stand, it would bring the administration of justice into disrepute.