NSIAH vs. UNION TRADING COMPANY LTD. [1959]DLCA2034

Date	1959-02-26
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1959]DLCA2034

KORSAH C.J.

VAN LARE J.A.

OLLENNU J.

[1959]DLCA2034
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">NSIAH <o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">vs. <o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">UNION TRADING COMPANY LTD.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[COURT OF APPEAL.]<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[1959] GLR 79<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

DATE:
26TH FEBRUARY, 1959.<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

</div>CORAM:
<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

KORSAH C.J., VAN LARE J.A. AND OLLENNU
J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF KORSAH C.J.<o:p></o:p>(His
lordship stated the facts, and proceeded):-<o:p></o:p>It is
conceded that according to native customary law (Ashanti) applicable in this
case, upon the death of the owner of a self-acquired property, the property
would devolve upon the successor, who should be one of his sisters' children,
males preferred to females; but such property does not become part of the
ancestral property belonging to all those known as “family,” who claim descent
from a common ancestress. It is generally known that there are several branches
of the same family, each entitled to inherit property which descends to the
successor of a deceased uncle of the direct line, immediately removed. Hence
the evidence of Yaah Adu, who claims to be 80 years of age, and to be a
descendant of one of three sisters whose descendants constitute the larger
family. She said, "Kwasi Yentumi was the successor of Kwabena Nketsia; and
he was so appointed by the family, who entrusted the properties of t he
deceased to his care.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>According
to native customary law, the successor of a deceased person is liable to pay
all the debts of the deceased, whether the estate was solvent or insolvent This
customary law was examined by Sir George Campbell Deane C. J. in his judgment
in the case of Asiedu v. Ofori &amp; anor. (Div. Court, Accra. 6th Dec. 1932).
He held.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">(a)
"such a course would in my view be repugnant to natural justice and
equity;<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-padding-alt:
31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">&nbsp;(b) "it would also be, I think,
implicitly incompatible with our Statute Law, Rule 8, Order 44, Cap. 158 (now
Cap. 4): ‘If the decree be against a party as the representative of a deceased
person, and such decree be for money to be paid out of the property of the
deceased person, it may be executed by the attachment and sale of any such
property; or, if no such property can be found, and the judgment debtor fail to
satisfy the Court that he has duly applied such property of the deceased as
shall be proved to have come into his possession, the decree may be executed
against the judgment-debtor to the extent of the property not duly applied by
him, in the same manner as if the decree had been against the judgment-debtor
personally."<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In
practice, then, the customary law of making the successor liable to pay debts
of his predecessor out of his own pocket has been modified, and limited to the
value of the estate which comes into the hands of the personal representatives.
The question does not arise here, because the debt which deceased owed to
defendants was paid out of the estate. But I refer to it to show that, under
the native customary law, as well as under the English law applicable, the
administrators are required to settle all the debts of the deceased from the
estate before distribution of the assets.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Furthermore,
it is important to note that Kwasi Yentumi and Kojo Sarkodie, who obtained
Letters of Administration to administer the estate of Kobina Nketsia, are
described in the Letters of Administration dated 6th April, 1927, as “the real
nephews of the said intestate.” This description of them implies that they were
acknowledged to be persons who, under native customary law, would have been
obliged to settle the debts of the deceased out of the estate.<o:p></o:p>