ANANG vs. TAGOE

The plaintiff, married to the late George Okai Mensah Tagoe since about 1952, claimed joint ownership of a house on plot B 747/4 at Mataheko, asserting she contributed financially and physically to its construction. The late Tagoe denied her claims and counterclaimed sole ownership. After Tagoe's death, his brother Major Tagoe was substituted as defendant. Evidence showed the plaintiff supplied meals to workers, provided money for materials, supervised construction, and was a trader capable of such contributions. The defendant was a police officer often away, leaving supervision to the plaintiff. The defendant's receipts and land indenture were in his name, but the plaintiff's contributions were corroborated by multiple witnesses. The defendant's credibility was questioned due to conflicting statements and lack of corroboration.

JUDGMENT OF BROBBEY J. By her writ the plaintiff has claimed a declaration that she is the joint owner with the late George Okai Mensah Tagoe of a house situated on a plot at Mataheko numbered as B 747/4. She also applied for perpetual injunction to restrain the defendant and her agents or assigns from interfering with the quiet enjoyment of the said house by her and her children. The action was originally instituted against her husband Robert Okai Mensah Tagoe but he died before the case was concluded. The current defendant, Major Tagoe, a brother and successor of the late Tagoe, was substituted for him. Before he died, the late Tagoe denied the plaintiff’s claims and counterclaimed for a declaration that he was the sole owner of the house in dispute. The plaintiff’s case is that she was married to the late Tagoe in about 1952. Thereafter a plot of land was acquired at Mataheko for the purpose of building for her late husband, herself and their children a matrim...