[1987]DLHC2222 • August 24, 1987 • High Court
BOTCHWAY AND ANOTHER vs. DANIELS AND OTHERS
The plaintiffs sued the defendants seeking arrears of maintenance amounting to ¢250,000 for Papa Mensah Abandoh, the son of the second defendant, an order for future maintenance, and appointment of the second plaintiff as guardian. The child was born out of a relationship between the third plaintiff and the second defendant. The defendants initially accepted responsibility through customary arrangements and the Department of Social Welfare issued maintenance orders, which the plaintiffs did not accept. The defendants failed to enter appearance timely, leading to default judgment in favor of the plaintiffs. The defendants later sought to set aside the default judgment and enter appearance late.
read moreJUDGMENT OF KPEGAH J. This is a case of some difficulty in which there are numerous applications and affidavits before me either by the plaintiff respondents (hereinafter referred to as the plaintiffs) or the defendant applicants (hereinafter referred to as the defendants). The plaintiffs sued the defendants asking for three reliefs against them jointly and severally, namely ¢250,000, being arrears of maintenance in respect of Papa Mensah Abandoh, the son of the second defendant; an order for the future maintenance of the said child; and thirdly, an order appointing the second plaintiff as the guardian of the child. The third plaintiff and the second defendant were young students when their amorous escapades saddled them with a pregnancy. The girl’s parents customarily approached the parents of the second defendant. They accepted responsibility and undertook to maintain the mother and child. When the third plaintiff was delivered of the child, the defendants went to name the child...