A former NDC MP, Bukari Amadu Sorogho, has been found guilty of contempt by the Accra High Court for defying a court order to halt construction on a disputed land at Madina Estate.
The court imposed a fine of GHc30,000 on Sorogho, with a warning that failure to pay would result in a one-week prison term.
According to the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Sorogho’s lawyer, Jah Josiah, pleaded for a lenient sentence due to his client’s health issues.
However, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Charles Habiah, argued that Sorogho’s status as a former MP did not warrant special treatment and that a custodial sentence was necessary for deliberately disobeying the court’s order.
The case, which began with a lawsuit filed by Musa Suleiman Rami and Umar Suleman, accused Sorogho of illegally building on common space and violating State Housing regulations.
The court had previously issued an interlocutory injunction barring Sorogho from constructing on the land, but he continued to do so, leading to the contempt charge.
In his ruling, His Lordship Justice Richard Apietu took into account Sorogho’s health issues but emphasized the need for accountability.
The case has been referred to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for further determination, with all parties instructed to cease work on the disputed land until the matter is resolved.
