MENSAH vs. AHODJO [1961]DLHC5419

Date	1961-05-31
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1961]DLHC5419

CRABBE J.

D. S. EFFAH FOR PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT.

R. E. ODURO FOR DEFENDANT-RESPONDENT.

[1961]DLHC5419
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<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">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">AHODJO<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, SUNYANI]<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">

D.
S. EFFAH FOR PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p>

R.
E. ODURO FOR DEFENDANT-RESPONDENT.<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">

CRABBE, J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF
CRABBE, J.<o:p></o:p>This is an appeal from the decision of S. O. Bobie-Ansah, Esq.,
local court magistrate, sitting at Bechem. The claim in the suit reads as
follows:<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">“PARTICULARS OF
THE PLAINTIFF’S CLAIM <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. The
plaintiff is the owner in possession of a cocoa farm situated on Derma stool
land at a place commonly known and called Adaa.<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;2. On or about the 10th September, 1957, the
Defendant entered the Plaintiff’s said cocoa farm and wrongful and maliciously
cut down and/or destroyed over 2,000 (two thousand) cocoa trees in the
Plaintiff’s said farm. <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. By reason of
the Defendant’s said malicious and wrongful act, the plaintiff has suffered
damage and loss. <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. Wherefore
the Plaintiff claims from the Defendant the sum of seven hundred pounds (£700)
being as to £600 Special Damage, and £100 - General Damages for damage done to
and for wrongful cutting down and destroying the Plaintiff’s cocoa trees in the
Plaintiff’s farm situate at a place commonly called Adaa on Derma stool land. <o:p></o:p>DATED AT KUMASI THIS 31st DAY OF MAY, 1958<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;(Sgd.)<o:p></o:p>PLAINTIFF<o:p></o:p>It appears that the case was first called at the local court on
the 22nd August, 1960, when the plaintiff filed a motion supported by an
affidavit by which he objected to the jurisdiction of the court on the ground
that the value of the disputed land was above £G200. The local court magistrate
overruled this preliminary objection as he thought that his court had an
unlimited jurisdiction in land cases.<o:p></o:p>Having ruled on the objection the magistrate then adjourned
further hearing to the 29th August, 1960.<o:p></o:p>It appears from the application for a writ of summons in this suit
and the hearing notice that the case was originally pending before the Bechem
Native Court before the 7th June, 1958. At that date the Native Courts
(Ashanti) Ordinance1(1) was the law relating to native courts in Ashanti.
Section 7 (1) of Cap. 99 states the jurisdiction of a native court as follows:<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">