ACHANA vs. KASSENA-NANKANI LOCAL COUNCIL [1962]DLHC1307

Date	1962-06-25
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1962]DLHC1307

DJABANOR J.

E. O. APPIAH FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

J. OWUSU YAW FOR T.A. TOTOE FOR THE DEFENDANTS.

[1962]DLHC1307
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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:#00B0F0">ACHANA<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:#00B0F0">&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:#00B0F0">KASSENA-NANKANI LOCAL COUNCIL<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, TAMALE]<o:p></o:p>[1962] 2 GLR 499<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.5pt;
padding:31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">

DATE:<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:#00B0F0"> 25TH JUNE, 1962.<o:p></o:p>

</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">

E.
O. APPIAH FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<o:p></o:p>

J.
OWUSU YAW FOR T.A. TOTOE FOR THE DEFENDANTS.<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">

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

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF
DJABANOR, J.<o:p></o:p>By his writ of summons the plaintiff claimed from the defendants
£G407 3s. 4d. arrears of salary; £G318 3s. 6d. gratuity; and £G95 9s. 0d.
pension from the 3rd July, 1960 to 5th July, 1961.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>I will first take the claim for arrears of salary. The defendants’
defence was that the plaintiff had been dismissed from their service and he
was, therefore, not entitled to any salary from July, 1959, when he was so
dismissed. The plaintiff claiming, as he does, full salary from July, 1958 till
July, 1960, must prove that he had been in the employment of the defendants all
that period. In September, 1958, the plaintiff was served with a letter of
interdiction. As a result of that letter he was placed on half salary. That is
the usual practice, and this half salary continues to be paid until dismissal
or the withdrawal of the interdiction. The plaintiff is saying that because
this interdiction was not followed up by a final dismissal notice he considered
himself still in the full employment of the council. I am not in full agreement
with that proposition. I am satisfied from the available evidence that the
plaintiff was lawfully interdicted, but that either through ignorance or
oversight the local council did not formally dismiss him. By exhibit B dated
the 1st September, 1958, the plaintiff was requested to report to the finance
and staff committee of the local council for interview and “to show cause why
(he) should not be recommended to full council for interdiction”. The terms of
this letter are clear and unambiguous and need no interpretation.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>By exhibit C, dated the 12th September, 1958, the plaintiff was
informed that proceedings for his dismissal were being taken. From the
proceedings of the minutes book, exhibit 5, it appears that the plaintiff was
recommended for dismissal, but that no action was taken to implement it. I am
satisfied that the plaintiff was lawfully interdicted but that he was not
dismissed lawfully. In fact the council was aware of this, for I note that the
following observation appears in the minutes of the 13th September, 1960, item
18/60:<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">“The Local Government Service Committee sat on the report and
confirmed that Mr. Achana be dismissed ... but unfortunately the Interim
Secretary failed to issue instructions to enable the Council to serve Mr.
Achana with a letter of dismissal ... The Committee further pointed out that as
Mr. Achana was not served with a letter of dismissal, he should be given one
month’s salary in lieu of notice”.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>At page 5 of exhibit A, the Local Government Conditions of
Service, 1956, appears the following:<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">“10. Dismissals<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">Dismissal should be in writing signed by the Clerk of the Council
following an appropriate enquiry and decision of the Council or its Staff
Committee”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>This in my view puts it beyond doubt that the alleged dismissal of
the plaintiff never took place. If plaintiff had not</main>