Supreme Court orders Minister to appear in court
The Supreme Court has asked the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development to appear before it on May 30, this year.
This is to enable her appraise the court the citing of Twedea as the capital of the Atwima Kwahoma district in the Ashanti Region.
The court presided over by Justice Victor Jones Dotse noted that although Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, the Deputy Minister, was in court, it would be prudent enough for the Minister to appear before it.
According to the court the applicants namely Nana Kwarteng Panin Akosah II, Owoahene Acheampong, Mr Yaw Kusi and Mr Hayford Appiah-Kubi had been travelling from Ashanti region to Accra anytime for the case.
However, the sector minister who was rather based in Accra chooses not to attend court, the court noted the former use to attend court.
Mr Sylvester William, a Chief State Attorney, informed the court that he had attached a contempt application and memo to the sector Minister, he however could not tell why the Minister did not turn up in court.
In the contempt application, the Minister was to explain to the court arrangement made by the government in ensuring that Twedea was made the district capital.
The Supreme Court in May 2012 affirmed that Twedea be made the district capital in relation to LI 1853. However attempts were made to rather to make Foase the district capital.
Mr Ayikoi Otoo, who represented the Plaintiff, said they were in court to take a short date because Parliament was on recess and would reconvene on May 23.
According to Mr Otoo they were however satisfied with the processes shown to them following their checks in Parliament.
In October 26, 2007 the Kuffour led administration created 25 districts of which Atwima Kwahoma”s district capital was to be Twedea.
The capital was however located to Foase, hence the plaintiffs went to a Kumasi High Court which ruled that the capital be located to Twedea.
Based on the ruling of the Kumasi High Court, the state appealed at the Court of Appeal which held that Foase should be the capital of Atwima Kwamhoma.
The plaintiffs appealed to the Supreme Court which on May 26, 2012 it ruled in favour of the appellants.
Government failed to abide by the said order of the Supreme Court hence plaintiffs cited the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for contempt.
Source: GNA