THE REPUBLIC v. DR. (MRS) MAXWELL APEAGYEI-GYAMFI & 2 OTHERS, EX PARTE: SUSAN BANDOH
2018
HIGH COURT
GHANA
CORAM
- KWEKU T. ACKAAH-BOAFO
Areas of Law
- Civil Procedure
2018
HIGH COURT
GHANA
CORAM
AI Generated Summary
The Applicant sought to hold the Respondents in contempt for allegedly defying a Supreme Court order concerning land possession. The High Court dismissed the application on jurisdictional grounds, stating that only the Supreme Court could hear contempt cases arising from its own orders. The court referred to multiple precedents to reinforce its decision that the standard of proof is beyond a reasonable doubt and that jurisdiction for contempt cases lies with the court that issued the order.
DECISION
APPLICATION FOR COMMITTAL FOR CONTEMPT
Introduction:
[1] The denial of liberty of any citizen of our Republic resulting from the charge of contempt is effected in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. Even though there is no specific law on contempt in Ghana[1], the absence of codification of the law of contempt in Ghana does not in itself violate the principle that there must not be crime or punishment except in accordance with fixed or pre‑determined law. This is because the charge of Contempt of Court in Ghana rests in the concept of the public defiance that accompanies the charge of contempt. To establish contempt in Ghana the Applicant must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused defied or disobeyed a court order, with intent, knowledge or recklessness as to the fact that the public disobedience will tend to depreciate the authority of the court.
[2]. As previously stated by this Court[2] ‘contempt of court is the big stick of civil litigation and because of the serious nature of a contempt finding, a finding should be made sparingly and only in the clearest cut of cases. A direct intention to disobey a Court order or an act to prejudice a pending application is required and it ought to be a willful disregard of the order or prejudice the outcome of a pending suit in the Court’[3].
[3] By a Motion on Notice filed at the registry of this court on 15/03/2017, the Applicant herein is praying the Court to use the “big stick” against the Respondents, “for an order committing the Respondents to prison for Contempt of Court” and be committed to prison not to “ridicule the authority of the courts ever again”.
[4] The Black’s Law Dictionary 8th Edition defines contempt as “conduct that defies the authority or dignity of a Court or legislature. Because such conduct interferes with the administration of justice, it is punishable, usually by fine or imprisonment.” The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English by A.S. Hornby (7th Edition) also defines contempt of court as “the crime of refusing to obey an order made by a court; not showing respect for a court or judge.”
ii. So what constitutes contempt in Ghana?
[5] In R v SITO I; EX PARTE FORDJOUR (2001-2002) SCGLR 322 the Supreme Court gave the elements constituting the offence of contempt as that:-
a) there should have been a judgment or order which required the contemnor to do or abstain from doing something;
b) the contemnor knew what