KWESI YAW vs. KWAW ATTA [1961]DLHC5411

Date	1961-07-31
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1961]DLHC5411

ADUMUA-BOSSMAN J.

R.S. BLAY FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

D. MYLES ABADOO FOR THE DEFENDANT.

[1961]DLHC5411
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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">KWESI YAW<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">&nbsp;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">KWAW ATTA<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;[HIGH COURT, CAPE COAST]<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">

R.S.
BLAY FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<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">

ADUMUA-BOSSMAN, J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF
ADUMUA-BOSSMAN J.<o:p></o:p>By the writ of summons which was issued in the Native Court “B” of
Abura but transferred to be dealt with in the Land Court, Cape Coast, the
plaintiff claimed declaration of title to an area of land designated
Edukromelands described by boundaries in the said writ, and also an order of
injunction to restrain the defendant, his agents, servants, and workmen, from
trespassing on the said land.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>By the statement of claim filed in support of the said writ, it
was alleged that the said area of land was attached to the plaintiff’s family
stool located at Edukrome (or Adukrome) in the Abura state, and that from time
immemorial the plaintiff’s family and other inhabitants of Edukrome have been
in occupation and possession of the said land, and the family have granted
permission to some strangers also who have occupied and are working on portions
of the said land; that the defendant when giving evidence in a case between one
Kwamin Guare as plaintiff and the plaintiff in this action as defendant in the
Asebu Native Court “B” at Moree, asserted title to the said land, wherefore the
plaintiff has been obliged to sue for declaration of his family’s title to the
land.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The statement of defence filed on behalf of the defendant denied
the plaintiff’s family stool’s alleged ownership of the land in dispute and
proceeded to set up the case that:<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">“Plaintiff is a mere caretaker of the land. Plaintiff’s occupation
of the land has always been at the will of the defendant; and defendant will at
the hearing adduce evidence in support of his claim to ownership of the land.”<o:p></o:p>The statement of claim and defence therefore disclose a
straightforward and clear-cut issue between the parties as to which of them has
the ownership of the land in dispute. In respect of that issue, it seems
unnecessary to remind ourselves of the legal position that the plaintiff having
sought the declaration, assumes the onus of satisfying the court: “that he is
entitled on the evidence brought by him to a declaration of title.” (See per
Webber, C.J. in Kodilinye v. Odu1(1)). Before turning however to consider how
far the evidence adduced by and on behalf of the plaintiff succeeds or fails to
discharge that onus, which is the main matter for consideration in this, as
indeed in every other action for declaration of title, let us turn to make a
cursory examination of the plans prepared for the trial of the case.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In this matter of a plan, the initial order of the court appointed
Mr. Ekow Selby, licensed surveyor of Cape Coast, to undertake the survey and
preparation of a plan of the land in dispute for the trial of the action. It
appears however that when Mr. Selby went to do the work, although he notified
the defendant to attend, the latter would not and did not attend, with the
result that Mr. Selby made a plan by the directions of the plaintiff and his people
only. That plan was admitted as exhibit A, in respect of which the following
material evidence was elicited from Mr. Selby:<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">“Q. You supplied a copy to the defendant? <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"><i</main>