AG intervenes in contempt case against Governor of Bank of Ghana
The state on Wednesday intervened in the contempt case brought against the Governor of the Bank of Ghana by Sweater and Stocks Factory Limited for refusing an order by an Accra High Court to pay a US$28,595,600 judgment debt.
The High Court was expected to give its ruling on the contempt case but the Attorney General (AG) quickly intervened in the matter for the court to stay the issue till the determination of the application which set aside the judgment.
Mrs Sylvia Adusu, Principal State Attorney, prayed the Court to stay the case because the state was contesting the foundation for which that order was given with respect to the payment of the US$28,595,600.
She subsequently prayed the court to stay the contempt case till the final determination of the matter.
Mr George Eshun, Counsel for Sweater and Stocks Factory Limited who was not happy with the Attorney General intervention prayed the court to ensure justice and fairness in the matter.
“Justice must be seen to be done even if the Heaven’s must fall”.
The High Court also granted the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) the permission to not to be physically present till the determination of the case. The move is to allow the governor attend to other pressing national issues.
Mr Justice Godwin Gabor, the trial judge subsequently adjourned the matter to March 27, 2013 to consider the issues raised before it.
Earlier, Mrs Marrietta Brew-Oppong Appiah, the Attorney General, moved a motion at another High Court Presided over by Mrs Elizabeth Akumah to set aside the payment of US$28,595,600 being a judgment debt in respect of Sweater and Stocks Factory Limited.
The move followed a previous order by an Accra High Court to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to garnishee the bank accounts of three institutions to settle a judgment debt of US$28,595,600 owed Sweater and Socks Factory Limited.
The Attorney General in moving the motion with an affidavit, challenged the applicants to show where the order was made for the payment.
She argued that there was no claim for payment since the order was not made, adding that, the Bank of Ghana had not been served with any further court process to effect any payment or otherwise.
Mr George Eshun, Counsel for Sweater and Stocks Factory Limited in opposing the motion with supporting affidavit said the AG should not allow herself to be dragged into the mud.
He prayed the court to dismiss the AG’s application since it was a complete abuse of the court’s process.
He said the orders made by the High Court to the BoG were all made within jurisdiction.
Mr Eshun further argued that the AG exhausted all avenues during the trial and as such could not file the motion claiming that the order of the court was void.
He said the application by the AG lacked merit and was only calculated to waste the court’s time and to unduly delay the plaintiff from enjoying the fruit of the judgment.
The case has been adjourned to April 9.
Source: GNA