Kumasi, July 19, GNA- A Kumasi High Court last Friday awarded 500,000 cedis cost against the Atwima District Assembly for failing to appear before it in a case in which 29 former staff of the assembly were claiming damages for wrongful suspension of their appointments. The case was first called on July 6, 2004 but the assembly failed to appear before the court.

A hearing notice was therefore served on the assembly last Friday, July 17, but the assembly again failed to appear. The court presided over by Mr Justice A.A. Okofo-Dartey, therefore awarded cost against the assembly and fixed July 28 for the case to be heard.

The 29 suspended employees of the assembly on January 9, this year, filed a writ at the High Court seeking a declaration that the letter purported to suspend their appointments dated August 30, 2001, was illegal.