Self Styled Chief Jailed For Contempt

A Tema High Court presided over by Her Lordship Elizabeth Ankomah has sentenced one Adjartey Ngmlikiti, aka Kwasi Wayo, who claims to be a chief of Heowe in Doryumu, near Dodowa, in the Greater Accra region, to a one week imprisonment for contempt of court. Kwasi Wayo is accused of leasing out lands within the Heowe stool lands in Doryumu to companies, organizations and individuals, including Ferrous Metal and Lovely Christiana Sedor and others under the guise of being the Heowe Mantse. The court was of the view that by his action, the defendant had violated an earlier order of injunction placed on that stretch of land by the court. A couple of months ago, the Tema High Court placed an order of injunction on that stretch of land, restraining the disposition of the Heowe stool lands in Doryumu, pending the final determination of a suit in connection with the said lands before the court. Counsel for Adjartey Ngmlikiti, during the hearing argued that his client leased lands in the area to companies, organizations and individuals to clients, in his capacity as chief of the area, but not as an individual and, therefore, the action for the contempt should be abated. However, the court did not accept his plea, but instead went ahead to slap a one week prison sentence on the defendant. Also pending before the Greater Accra House of Chiefs is a motion filed by one Nokotoma Yaw Opata of Blornyawem, who is head of the stool family of Heowe family. Mr. Yaw Opata is claiming that Mr. Ngmlikiti does not belong to the royal family of Blornyawem and, therefore, does not qualified to be selected, elected and enstooled as a chief. Mr. Yaw Opata is alleging that the purported installation of Mr. Ngmlikiti by Manklolo Odorkor Ochuassa of Wedokum, violates Heowe customs, which demands that a Heowe chief can only be installed by Nene Lartey Akoto of Drawer, Lasimatse of Heowe together with eight other kingmakers as found by the Ollenu commission. The eight other kingmakers include; Nene Lartey Akoto � head of kingmakers, Manklolo Odorkor Ochuassa � manklolo of Heowe, Okyeame Dor Kwasi � Ma okyeame, Klam Djagmah � klam of Teidje, Lawe Minka � Obonutem matse, Goomodji Matey � Sehierlor of Teidje, Okofo Badu � Asafoatse of Memlesi, Asafoatse Ochirifo - Heowe Asafoatse and Obu Nyabor � Lasitse of Teidje.