The High Court in Mankessim has ruled that Mr. Kojo Ankomah Dickson is not the legitimate Ebusuapanyin (head) of the Paakesedo Nsona Royal Family of Mankessim.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Jonathan Avogo following a lawsuit filed by members of the royal family, including Nana Araba Otua II, Obaahemaa of the Mankessim Traditional Area, and other family elders.
The court declared that Mr. Dickson was not validly appointed as the substantive family head under customary law. It also ruled that transactions he carried out after his removal as interim Ebusuapanyin have no legal effect.
The court further issued a perpetual injunction restraining Mr. Dickson from presenting himself as the Ebusuapanyin of the Paakesedo Royal Nsona Family or engaging in transactions involving family lands in that capacity.
According to the judgment, the dispute centred on whether Mr. Dickson had been properly nominated and appointed as the substantive family head. The court held that he had only served as an interim head following the death of the previous Ebusuapanyin and that there was no evidence of a valid appointment in line with customary law after his removal.
In reaching its decision, the court relied on established legal principles governing the appointment of family heads under customary law, stressing that all principal family elders must be involved in the process.
Following the ruling, the Paakesedo Nsona Royal Family called on its members and the public to remain calm and respect the court’s decision.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Agyei Kwaku Mensah