Sekondi, April 4, GNA – The Western Regional Minister, Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo and two others, including the Regional Police Commander on Tuesday appeared before a Sekondi High Court for contempt. The third accused was Mr Leonard Blay, Western Regional Security Coordinator.
The Right Reverend John K. Otoo, Bishop of the Sekondi Diocese of the Anglican Church, filed the suit against the three, who are top members of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), for closing down the Cathedral of Saint Andrew the Apostle at Sekondi on March 19 this year. A Sekondi High Court on March 15, granted a seven-day interim injunction to Mr. Joseph Abeka, a Registrar of the Church and Mr. Lord Pearce, Diocesan and Synod Secretary to perform their duties as leaders of the Anglican Church in the Sekondi Diocese.
The injunction was meant to prevent 13 worshippers of the Church from their continued occupation.
The court, presided over by Justice Clemence J. Honyenuga, said the injunction restrains the group from entering the Cathedral, and none of them was to prevent Rt. Rev. John K. Otoo, Anglican Bishop of Sekondi or any Clergyman from exercising their duties or celebrating mass and other religious activities.
The court then ordered that the Bishop and his team should after seven days, serve the group notice to come to court and argue the seven-day interim order to enable the court to give a lasting order. The seven-day injunction expired on March 22.
However, on March 19, REGSEC in a letter signed by Mr. Seth Apawudza, an Assistant Director of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), informed the Bishop and other church leaders of the closure of the Cathedral.
The letter stated that intelligence report had indicated that there could be a clash between supporters of Bishop Otoo, who intended to celebrate his maiden mass at the Cathedral and some members of the church who were opposed to the Bishop.
It said to forestall any such clash or any likely disturbance of the peace and stability of the Metropolis, the Cathedral was closed for service on March 19.
Ms. Valerie Amate, Principal State Attorney, Mr. George F.Y. Kpodo, Senior State Attorney and Mr. Samuel P. Akufo, a Senior State Attorney from the regional Attorney General Department (AG’s) represented the three REGSEC members while Lawyer J. Amoa- Sakyi represented Bishop Otoo.
The AG’s Department has in addition to the affidavit in opposition of the suit, filed another application asking the court presided over by Justice Clemence J. Honyenuga that the matter should be determined in chambers and that the application by Bishop Otoo should be declared null and void.
The case has been adjourned to April 26.
Source: GhanaWeb
