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The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Twifo Atti Mokwa, Bossman Osei Hyeamn, was yesterday sentenced to 14 days� imprisonment by the Cape Coast High Court for contempt. The court was presided over by Mrs Justice Adwoa Coleman. This is the first time a serving DCE has been jailed for wrongdoing since Ghana chose the path of democracy in 1993. The DCE demolished a market at Twifo Praso, in spite of a stay of execution against the exercise. He was also said to have announced on a local radio station at Twifo Praso that he had gone ahead to demolish the market, notwithstanding the court order, and nobody could take him to task. The Market Women Association of Twifo Praso then filed a contempt case against him. Background The High Court in Cape Coast, presided over by Ms Justice Ivy Heward-Mills, had earlier ordered the assembly to relocate the old market at Twifo Praso because it had encroached on police station, hospital, school and court lands. The District Magistrate�s Court, the police station and Basic Schools A and D had all been encroached on by traders, with the associated noise, making it impossible for the court to sit and lessons to go on effectively in the schools, particularly on market days. The DCE had, on several occasions, informed the traders about an intended relocation to the new European Union Market, which was built for them by the assembly. However, before the assembly could relocate the traders, counsel for the Market Women Association, Mr Amponsah Dadzie, filed a motion for stay of execution preventing the assembly from relocating the traders and demolishing the old market. That notwithstanding, the DCE went ahead to demolish the old market. He was said to have used vulgar words against the bailiff who had gone to his office to serve him the summons and described judges as being �corrupt and thieves�. He was also alleged to have threatened to beat the bailiff if he did not leave his office. The bailiff then threw the summons at him and left. Sentence While passing sentence, the presiding judge said it was unfortunate that a public official of the DCE�s calibre should behave in such a manner. She said the convict should have known better, adding that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others who thought they were above the law. Hyeaman stood in a pensive mood as the judge pronounced the sentence. He was later taken to the registrar�s office to undergo the necessary procedures for him to begin his sojourn in jail.