REPUBLIC v. NII ADAMA THOMPSON _ ORS.

After a chieftaincy dispute before the Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs led to a 17 February 2003 order directing the Gbese Stool’s regalia be handed over to the respondent, the applicants failed to comply and were convicted of contempt by the High Court (Dzakpasu J). The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed their appeal on 19 November 2009, and they filed a further appeal in the Supreme Court. In this interlocutory application, the applicants, represented by Nii Akwei Bruce Thompson, sought leave to add two jurisdictional grounds, to amend their statement of case to incorporate them, and to adduce fresh evidence based on newspapers and photographs. The respondents’ counsel, Mr. William Adumua‑Bossman, did not oppose adding the jurisdictional grounds. The Supreme Court, per Dotse JSC, granted leave to add the additional grounds and to amend the statement of case, but refused the request to adduce fresh evidence under rule 76 of C.I. 16, emphasizing due diligence, relevance, and finality in appellate practice.