The Talensi Traditional Council led by its president, Naab Kubilsong Nalebgetang, has denied allegations of attempt to influence the decisions of a High Court judge leveled against its president and the subsequent conviction of two of its members, chief of Baare, Nab Nyakura Maantii and Richard Sunday Yinbil, the secretary to Nab Kubilsong Nalebgtang by a sitting High Court Judge of the Bolgatanga High Court two, His Lordship Alexander Graham.
The presiding High Court Judge of the Bolgatanga High Court two, Justice Alexander Graham on Friday, March 10, 2023 coursed for the arrest of two members of the Talensi Traditional Council, the secretary to the Paramount Chief of the Talensi Traditional Area, Richard Sunday Yinbil who doubles as the Upper East Regional Chairman of the Coalition of Concerned Teachers of Ghana, as well the assembly member for Gbeogo Kaare electoral area and the Chief of Baare, Naab Nyakora Mantii who had met with the judge, His Lordship Alexander Graham, in his chambers, to invite him to the palace on the order of the paramount chief of Tongo, Nab Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang to discuss some land litigation issues before his court.
A visibly furious Justice Graham did not take kindly to the actions of the of the Tongraan, Nab Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang as he considered their action as contemptuous and charged the two with contempt of court. The judge then ordered that the two produce the Tongraan, Nab Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang in court after they pleaded guilty to their charge.
The whole bench of about twelve lawyers who were in the court room to defend various cases took turns to plead with the judge on behalf of Tongraan, Nab Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang and the two, not to give them custodial sentence.
His Lordship Justice Alexander listened to the pleas of the lawyers and convicted the accused persons on their own plea and asked them to sign a bond of six months to be of good behaviour. He also directed that the bond should be signed before the Upper East Regional Police Command. The two accused persons were held in court custody from around 9.00 am to 3:18 pm before they were sent by police to the Upper East Regional Police Command.
Reacting to the issue, the Talensi Traditional Council in a press release to the media on Friday 17th March,2023, denied the allegation of Justice Alexander Graham that the two messengers were sent to his chambers to trap or influence him in adjudicating some mining related issues at his court.
Naab Tampelgsong Kum Gaadzom, the chief of Tindongo who signed the press release on behalf of the council explained that it took notice of many land litigation issues from the area that were been sent to the court on daily basses, some of which sometimes culminated in clashes leading to injuries of lives and property and therefore decided to invite Justice Alexander Graham to explore ways of resolving the numerous land litigations.
“At various meetings, members of the council lamented over the state of affairs in the area where on daily basses citizens of the area are more often than not in ciurt to litigate on land cases. The council also took notice of the fact that a lot of such litigations culminated in clashes leading to injuries to persons and damage to property.”
“In order to help in addressing these nagging issues which has the potential to derail the progress and development of the area which has of late witnessed huge investments in the mining sector by especially private companies namely: Earl International and Cardinal/Namdini with the capacity to employ the teeming youth in the traditional area, the region and beyond, the council deemed it necessary to explore ways in resolving the land litigation particularly. Consequently on Wednesday, 8th March, 2023, the two members of the council were tasked by the paramount chief to invite His Lordship Alexander Graham to enable the council put its concerns with respect to the various land litigations in court to him on the way forward.”
The council said the reason why it sent the two members to the judge was not to influence him in any manner but an invitation extended to him by the president of the Talensi Traditional Council to see how land litigations can be addressed.
“The council did not send the two members to to go and influence his Lordship, Alexander Graham in any manner whatsoever. It was simply an invitation extended to his Lordship by the president to see how best litigations on issues concerning land can be addressed by the council through its Customary Land Secretariat with the help of the judge.”
The press release added that the two messengers were not sent there to entrap or influence the judge on issues pending at his court since the president Tongraan, Nab Kugbilsong Nanlebegtang and the Traditional Council is not a party to any land issue at the court.
Below is the full press release.
