KWAME MENSAH vs. ABROKWA AND OTHERS [1961]DLHC5410

Date	1961-07-25
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1961]DLHC5410

LORD HODSON LORD GUEST

THE RT. HON. MR. L.M.D. DE SILVA.

C.A. SETTLE Q.C. AND W. GOODHART FOR THE APPELLANT.

[1961]DLHC5410
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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:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">KWAME MENSAH <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:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">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:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">ABROKWA AND OTHERS<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#548DD4">&nbsp;[JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL]<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">

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

C.A.
SETTLE, Q.C. AND W. GOODHART FOR THE APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p>

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

LORD HODSON LORD GUEST, THE
RT. HON. MR. L.M.D. DE SILVA.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF MR.
De SILVA<o:p></o:p>Mr. De Silva delivered the judgment of the Board.<o:p></o:p>[He outlined the previous proceedings and continued:] This case
was decided in each of the courts in Africa on the basis that English law was
applicable to the questions which arose.<o:p></o:p>On the 11th March, 1939, the respondents received a loan from one
Kwabena Frimpong, the first defendant in the action (not an appellant in this
appeal) and in respect thereof executed a document in the latter’s favour in
the following terms:<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">“Whereas we the undermarked Kojo Abrokwa and Kwabena Akromah all
of Manfro in the Kumasi District have this 11th day of March, 1939, received
the sum of Four – (sic.) eleven shillings (£4 11s) from Kwabena Frimpong of
Abrepo village as loan in consideration for which we hereby pledge the
undermentioned One (1) Cocoa Farm to the said Kwabena Frimpong as security
against the said loan.<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. We do hereby faithfully promise to pay the said sum of four –
eleven shillings (£4 11s.) on or before the 30th day of November, 1939. 2.
Provided always and it is hereby agreed and declared that in default or failure
to pay the said sum aforesaid on or before the time specified above it shall be
lawful for the said Kwabena Frimpong to forfeit or sell and dispose of the
cocoa farm hereunder described and deposited as security either by private or
public auction after two (2) weeks notice to us and if the amount realised at
such sale shall not cover the said sum of four pounds eleven shillings (£4
11s.) it shall be lawful for the said Kwabena Frimpong to call on us for
whatever balance that may be found due (deducting all expenses attendant to the
sale). 3. We further agree to have no claim against the said Kwabena Frimpong
should he exercise the power hereinbefore contained in paragraph (92) above
mentioned. 4. Provided always and it is hereby agreed and declared that the
power to forfeiture and sale hereinbefore contained shall not be exercised
unless and until default shall have been made in payment of the said sum of
Four pounds eleven shillings (£4 11s.) on or before the time above specified.
5. In case of failure to pay the above mentioned sum of Four pounds eleven
shillings (£4 11s.) at the time specified, the said Kwabena Frimpong has the
discretion to grant extension of time upon accepting any interest that may be
due on the principal sum and upon payment of consideration.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The case for the appellant is that the respondents failed to make
due repayment of the loan and that therefore the property was duly sold by
auction by Kwabena Frimpong (first defendant but not an appellant) in terms of
the document set out in the previous paragraph and bought by one Akwasi Badu
(the second defendant, not an appellant) and that Akwasi Badu in turn sold the
property to Kwame Mensah, the third defendant who is the present appellant. On
these alleged facts the appellant says he is the lawful owner of the property.
The appellant also says that the respondents stood by for a long period without
disputing the validity of the sale, that they must be held to have acquiesced
in it and cannot now dispute it.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The respondents were not represented at the hearing of this
appeal. It is necessary for their Lordships to examine whether the sale passed
title and also the plea of acquiescence.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The validity of the sale was challenged in the c</main>