Principal kingmakers and elders of Gbese Mantse have expressed displeasure over an Accra High Court’s persistent adjournments of the long-standing chieftaincy dispute between Nii Okaidja III and Nii Ayi Bonte.
The kingmakers could not comprehend why the court once again had to adjourn the case to Thursday, December 14, 2017 even though it had initially announced Tuesday, October 10, 2017 as the judgement day.
In a writ filed against Nii Ayi Bonte by Nii Okaidja III, the Plaintiff, Nii Okaidja III was asking the court to set aside the order of mandamus dated September 25, 2012 which ordered the insertion of Nii Ayi Bonte’s name into the register of the National House of Chiefs “as having been obtained by fraud.”
The plaintiff also prayed the court to order the National House of Chiefs to remove Nii Ayi Bonte’s name from the National Register of Chiefs.
The case which went before the court on July 12, 2017 though the court gave verbal ruling on the matter, the parties were asked to collect the written ruling at registrar’s office on Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
However, when the parties went to court last Tuesday for the written ruling they were informed it was still not ready. This compelled the kingmakers of Nii Okaidja III to head to court.
After a long wait, it became obvious that the ruling was not ready following which the judge asked for a new date after which representatives of Nii Ayi Bonte then suggested December 14, 2017.
In an interview with Weekend Today at the premises of the Accra High Court, the kingmakers and elders of Nii Okaidja III asked: “Is it not strange that three years down the lane since the apex court gave its decision, Thomas Okai’s name is still in the National Register as Nii Ayi Bonte II.”
“In plain terms therefore, it is going to take five months before a ruling is made available, that is, if it is not adjourned yet again,” they noted.
According to them, Nii Ayi Bonte II does not hail from any of the three Royal Ruling Houses in Ga Mashie, adding that “no court has declared him as the Chief of Gbese Mantse.
They explained that the restraining order not to hold himself as a chief was still active
The Supreme Court declared the Dodowa judgment dated February 17, 2003 upon which Thomas Okai became a Chief, null and void.
Story: Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu
