The Sunyani Traditional Council and its Paramount Chief, Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri II, and two other people have been charged with contempt of court over the publication of Madam Abenaa Brayie Donkor as the Queen mother of the Sunyani Traditional Council. The applicants are asking the Kumasi High Court to imprison the respondents, including Madam Donkor and one Nana Obiri Yeboah, in a motion submitted by Nana Obiri Boahen of the “Enso Nyame Ye Chambers,” a Sunyani-based law practice, and counsel. The plaintiffs include Mr. Kwasi Mensah, another Head of the Royal Family, and Madam Yaa Animah, the Head of the Immediate Nana Nyamaa and Boahen Korkor Royal Family.
Journalists in Sunyani were given a copy of the writ, which asks the court to punish the respondents for their deliberate and willful attempts to scandalize the public and subject the administration of justice to ridicule and contempt. This behavior is deliberately intended to compromise the integrity of the legal system. Gazing at Madam Donkor “is a conduct disdainful of the court and a flagrant disregard for the administration of justice,” the document stated, “notwithstanding the pendency of a substantive complaint and motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”
According to the plaintiff, the respondents intentionally and maliciously undermined the administration of justice by treating with contempt court processes, more especially “motion on notice for interlocutory” filed on August 11, 2022 which was still pending in respect of the chieftaincy petition before a judicial committee.
“Holding out or recognizing Madam Brayie as the queen mother of Sunyani Traditional Council, knowing fully well that, a chieftaincy petition has been mounted against her and also an application for injunction has been applied for and same waiting determination, thereby rendering the entire application and to a large extent that, the entire action/suit is not moot which said conduct is repugnant, contemptuous, disrespectful and disobedient”, it added.
The writ stated that the respondents should be imprisoned for encouraging Madam Donkor to continue to represent herself as the queen mother of the Sunyani Traditional Council despite the pending status of both the substantive chieftaincy petition and an interlocutory injunction. Just over two years ago, Nana Nkrawiri II chose, crowned, and installed retired educator Mrs. Bright Donkor Faakye as the Paramount Queen Mother of the Sunyani Traditional Area. Mrs. Faakye, also known by her stool name Nana Akosua Duaa Brayie II, is a member of the Sunyani Boahen Korkor Asenie-Kodie-Adonten royal family. She succeeded the late Nana Yaa Nyamaa Poduo II, who ruled for 47 years before passing away on August 1 of this year at the age of 64. But, the Boahen Korkor Nana Nyamaa Royal Family, the Mother Gate of the three Sunyani Royal Families, namely Akosua Duaa, Kwantwiwaa and Nyantakyiwaa royal gates, has since challenged the legitimacy of the installation of the Queen mother.
