Nii Ayinsah Sasraku jailed for contempt
The former Dzasetse of Plerno, James Town in Accra, Nii Ayinsah Sasraku III, has been sentenced to a month’s imprisonment by the Accra High Court for contempt of court.
His conviction followed a motion on notice brought against him and one other person by Rev. Nii Tackie Tagoe and Daniel Nii Ade Tagoe that prayed the court to commit them to prison custody for contempt until they purged themselves by refraining from interfering with the proceedings before the court.
The other respondent, Oblempong Kojo Ababio was, however, discharged by the court.
A suit pending before the court, filed by Nii Ayinsah Sasraku, known in private life as Emmanuel Nii Adjei Osekere, is seeking a declaration that he is the lawful, recognised and substantive head of family of the Nii Arde Nkpa family.
He is also seeking a declaration that Rev. Nii Tackie Tagoe and Daniel Nii Ade Tagoe are not the head of the Nii Arde Nkpa family and administrator of the family council respectively.
He is further praying the court for an order of perpetual injunction to restrain them from carrying themselves as the head of family and administrator respectively.
Rev. Nii Tackie Tagoe and Daniel Nii Ade Tagoe, however, made a counterclaim for a declaration that Nii Ayinsah Sasraku had not been appointed and or elected as the head of the Nii Arde Nkpa family of Plerno, Kokrobite, Tuba and Langma.
They also sought a declaration that Rev. Nii Tackie Tagoe was the head of the family and prayed for an order for perpetual injunction to restrain Nii Ayinsah Sasraku from holding himself as the head of family.
Whilst the case was pending, Nii Ayinsah Sasraku applied for an order for interlocutory injunction to restrain the defendants from carrying themselves as head of family and administrator of the council.
The High Court, however, dismissed the application on the grounds that Nii Ayinsah Sasraku had not been appointed as the head of the family, but only appointed, elected and installed as Dzasetse of Plerno.
It was established during the contempt proceedings that Nii Ayinsah Sasraku had indulged in acts and conduct which amounted to usurpation of the functions of the High Court, in spite of the pendency of the case before the court.
In its June 14, 2013 ruling, the court, presided over by Mrs Justice Elizabeth Ankumah found that in an assumed capacity as the head of family contrary to the High Court ruling, Nii Ayinsah Sasraku wrote to the chief of Plerno, Kokrobite, Langma and Tuba removing him as chief.
The court also found that in a reply to a letter from the office of the Ga South Municipal Assembly, Nii Ayinsah Sasraku again addressed and held himself out as the head of the Nii Arde Nkpa family of Plerno.
According to the court, the actions of Nii Ayinsah Sasraku were intentional and wilful and intended to disparage the image of the court.
The court further found that the actions and conduct of Nii Ayinsah Sasraku did not only amount to interference in the administration of justice, but also amounted to the usurpation of the functions and authority of the court.
