Court to hear contempt charge against Kpoh
Court to hear contempt charge against Kpoh
Accra (Greater Accra) 24 March 2000.
Some members of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) who besieged an Accra High Court on Thursday to listen to proceedings of a case in which Mr Napoleon Kpoh, General Secretary of the union has been cited for contempt, were disappointed when the case was adjourned.
The adjournment to Thursday, 13 April followed discussions held in chambers between Mr Justice F. T. Farkye, the presiding judge and counsel for parties in the suit.
Mr Abraham Koomson, General Secretary of the Textile Garments and Leather Employers Union (TEGLEU), has filed a writ at the court accusing Mr Kpoh of contempt.
In an affidavit supporting his application, Mr Koomson indicated that Mr Kpoh has violated the court's ruling of 1997 which restrained him from issuing another Collective Bargaining Certificate (CBC) to the ICU of the Trades Union Congress in respect of workers of the Ghana Textile Manufacturing Company (GTMC).
Mr Justice Farkye declared in that judgement that "by section three of the Industrial Relations Act 1965, Act 299, Mr Kpoh is prohibited from issuing a collective bargaining certificate for any class of employers if there is in force a certificate appointing another Trade Union for that class of employers or any part of the class."
According to the affidavit, Mr Kpoh "has taken it upon himself to make statements and do acts which are likely to scandalise the court and bring the administration of the court into disrepute."
Furthermore, the affidavit quoted Mr Kpoh as describing the High Court Ruling in the December two, 1999 issue of the Ghanaian Times as "a stab in the chest of justice, and an affront to the legitimate right of workers."
"The ruling is anarchical and will be rejected at all cost to ensure justice; we will not allow any judge to hide under any political influence to violate the rights of workers," the affidavit quoted Mr Kpoh to have said.
It is therefore the candid opinion of Mr Koomson in his affidavit that "unless the court takes measures to bring these actions to a halt by processes available to it, the judiciary will be scandalised and maimed in its work."
GRi.