LARBI vs. CATO & ANOR [1959]DLHC2023

Date	1959-01-28
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1959]DLHC2023

OLLENNU J.

LOKKO FOR PLAINTIFF.

BENTSI-ENCHILL FOR DEFENDANTS.

[1959]DLHC2023
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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">LARBI <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">CATO &amp; ANOR<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH COURT (LANDS DIVISION), ACCRA]<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 35<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:
28TH JANUARY, 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">

LOKKO FOR
PLAINTIFF.<o:p></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">

OLLENNU J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF OLLENNU J.<o:p></o:p>(His
lordship stated the facts, and continued); - The late Mr. Larbi died on the
30th September, 1956, and a certified copy of Probate of his Will formed part
of the evidence led on behalf of the plaintiff. Paragraph 7 of the Will gives
the history of the premises in dispute, and is in conflict with the plaintiff’s
claim.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
plaintiff’s claim is based upon the well-established principle that where
members of a family assist another member of the family with money, materials
or labour to build on that other’s self-acquired land, the members so assisting
acquire, at the death of the builder, certain rights with respect to the house
so build - the house becomes family property (Welbeck and ors. v. Brown and
anor. (Sar. F.C.L. 160)). Further, property acquired from profits of family
property is itself family property (Tsetsewa v. Acquah &amp; anor. (7 W.A.C.A .
216)).<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
native law or custom which the Supreme Court recognises and administers must be
such as, in the language of section 87(1) of the Courts Ordinance, is not
repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience. In considering native
law and custom in that light, regard should be had to the progress of society,
and to changing conditions in the social life of, and economic values in, this
country.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>From a
careful study of the various judicial decisions, including the case of Codjoe
&amp; ors. v. Kwatchey (2 W.A.C.A 371) and Redward’s Commentaries on this
aspect of the customary law, I have formed the opinion that where it is proved<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">(1) that
members of a family made substantial monetary contribution to another member to
build a house on his individual land, or<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">(2) that
the moneys used by a member of a family to build on his self-acquired land were
entirely, or substantially, proceeds from family or ancestral property, as
distinct from what he (the individual member of the family) would normally
enjoy as his share of proceeds from family or ancestral property, or<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">(3) that
in the absence of employed labour (or with partly employed labour) members of
the family provided the whole or a substantial part, of the labour for a member
of the family to build a house on his own land, and with his own materials, or<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">(4) that
the materials used by a member of the family to build on his own land were, in
the main, property of the family, then, in any such case of substantial
contribution by the family or members of the family, a house built by a member
on his self-acquired land becomes by custom family property.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>