Injunction motion filed against Dormaahene

Frank Benneh opens his defence

Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 14 Dec, '99

A motion for an interim injunction has been filed against the Omanhene of Dormaa, Osagyefo Oseadeeyor Agyeman-Badu and eight others to restrain them from taking over the stool property of Chiraa, until a pending succession dispute to the stool is resolved.

The motion was filed at the Judicial Committee of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs with Opanyin Kwame Asante of the Owusu Kwadwo Royal Household one of the two gates of Chiraa, as the applicant.

Also joined in the suit as defendants are Nana Adwoa Kusiwaa, Queenmother of Chiraa, Asamoah Adjei, claimant to the Chiraa stool, the Dormaa Traditional Council and its registrar.

Other defendants are Nana Kwadwo Kyeremeh, Nifahene, Nana Yaw Yeboah, Gyasehene and Nana Sawiri Ankobeahene, all of Chiraa.

An affidavit supporting the motion said shortly after the Chiraa stool became vacant in 1998, the applicant, on behalf of his family, instituted an action against the respondents at the Judicial Committee of the Regional House of Chiefs.

This, it said, was after it became apparent that some of the respondents were making strenuous attempts to exclude members of the Owusu Kwadwo Royal Household from contesting the vacant Chiraa stool.

The affidavit said though the case is yet to be heard, the respondents particularly Osagyefo Oseadeeyor Agyeman-Badu and the Queenmother of Chiraa, had connived to give recognition to Mr Adjei as the installed chief of Chiraa.

It said a letter dated eight December, written on the orders of the Paramount Chief of Dormaa requesting for the handing over of the stool property of Chiraa to Mr Adjei is an indication that he has taken sides even before the determination of the case.

The affidavit prayed that the request for interim injunction be granted in order not to bring the administration of justice into disrepute and cause irreparable damage to the rights of the applicant.

GRi../

Accra (Greater Accra) 14 Dec '99

Frank Benneh, a former diplomat Accused of dealing in drugs while in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday opened his defence at a Regional Tribunal in Accra denying the charges.

Before he started his evidence, his attorney, Mr Ray Kakraba-Quarshie told the court that evidence given by the prosecution witnesses against his client "was all hear-say".

"The accused has therefore decided to give unsworn evidence and leave the rest with the court to decide", Mr Kakraba-Quarshie said. The tribunal, chaired by Mr Justice Wright Mensah agreed to the request.

Led by his counsel, Benneh said he was an intelligence officer detailed among other things, to ascertain the involvement of Ghanaians in drug-trafficking in Geneva.

He said he did not at any particular time involve himself in drug business.

Benneh said, he was keeping surveillance on two persons whom he thought were Ghanaians because they were blacks, at a supermarket, which was about 100 metres from his residence.

Later, he found out that he was at a "wrong place at a wrong time".

According to the accused, he was arrested by the Swiss police together with the two persons, who were later identified as Sierra Leoneans and accused of allegedly dealing in drugs.

Benneh said he told Inspector Becker, leader of the Police team that he was a diplomat on an intelligence duty but the officer invited him to their office where he gave a statement.

He said he reported the incidence to his senior officer at the embassy from where a similar report was sent home to the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Accra.

Benneh said he reported the lost of his old passport, which expired 10 years ago but this was found in possession of one of the prosecution witnesses arrested by the Swiss Police.

Accused denied that he pledged the passport to the witness for drugs as alleged in the evidence of the prosecution.

Hearing continues on January 18, 2000.

GRi../