The Supreme Court has ordered the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Hajia Alima Mahama to appear before it on May 30, this year.
This is to enable her appraise the court on the citing of Twedea as the capital of the Atwima Kwahoma district in the Ashanti Region.
The court, presided over by Justice Victor Jones Dotse, noted that although, the Deputy Minister Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah was in court, it would be prudent enough for the Minister to appear before it.
According to the court, the applicants, namely; Nana Kwarteng Panin Akosah ll, Owoahene Acheampong, Mr Yaw Kusi and Mr. Hayford Appiah-Kubi have been travelling from Ashanti region to Accra for the hearing of the case.
But the minister based in Accra has chosen not to attend court preferring her deputy to do so.
Chief State Attorney Sylvester William informed the court that he had attached a contempt application and a memo to the sector minister.
In the contempt application, the minister was to explain in court steps taken by government to make Twedea the district capital.
He however, could not tell why the Minister did not turn up in court.
The case involves the failure of government to adhere to a May 2012 judgment ordering it to make Twedea the district capital in relation to LI 1853.
In October 26, 2007, the Kufour-led administration created 25 districts of which Atwima Kwahoma’s district capital was to be Twedea.
But in implementing the government’s decision, the capital was located at Foase irking the plaintiffs.
They proceeded to a Kumasi High Court which ruled in their favour ordering that the capital be located to Twedea.
The state however appealed at the Court of Appeal which reverse the decision of the High Court holding that Foase should remain the capital of Atwima Kwamhoma.
Escalating the matter further, the plaintiffs appealed at the Supreme Court. On May 26, 2012, it ruled in favour of the appellants.
But government failed to abide by the said order of the Supreme Court compelling the plaintiffs cited the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for contempt.
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