The High Court (General Jurisdiction 1) in Accra has granted an application for substituted service filed by Mr. Kwadwo Adjei in a contempt of court case against Ms. Karen Baaba Sam, following an ongoing and contentious child custody dispute.
The application, filed ex parte, allows Mr. Adjei to serve legal documents through alternative means, including a public notice on the High Court’s bulletin board and publication in a national newspaper.
The decision comes after allegations that Ms. Sam has gone into hiding with their daughter, Adele Ohemaa Adjei, in defiance of subsisting court orders.
The case stems from a drawn-out custody battle at the Family Tribunal, where interim orders had granted Mr. Adjei custody and Ms. Sam fortnightly visitation.
Mr. Adjei alleges that Ms. Sam repeatedly violated these orders, including retaining the child past court-ordered return dates and absconding with her on June 11, shortly after the High Court quashed newer orders that temporarily gave her primary care.
This is the second contempt action filed against Ms. Sam, who was previously convicted for a similar offense in the same custody matter.
The court is expected to determine whether her recent conduct warrants a custodial sentence.
