ANIN J.S.C.
Both parties to the suit are members of the Royal Asona stool of Konongo; the first plaintiff being the abusuapanin; the second plaintiff, the Obaapanin; and the third plaintiff, the linguist; while the defendant was at all material times the Konongohene. In the course of the protracted litigation through three subordinate tribunals, substitutions were made for the original first and third plaintiffs.
During 1970, a dispute arose between the parties. The plaintiffs’ complaint against the defendant was that he had installed a chief without their consent and given him an umbrella which belonged to the family. After an abortive attempt at settling their differences internally, they submitted the dispute to the Juabenhemaa, the customary overlord of Konongo, for an arbitration. The award went against the defendant and he was ordered to apologise to his family; refund the “aseda” (or thank-offering money) of ¢6.10 paid by the successful complainants; and also to reimburse them f…