CHIEF LANDS OFFICER vs. OPOKU [1962]DLHC1404

Date	1962-07-17
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1962]DLHC1404

DJABANOR J.

QUIST FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

K.G. OSEI-BONSU FOR N. Y. B. ADADE FOR THE DEFENDANT.

[1962]DLHC1404
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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">CHIEF LANDS OFFICER <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">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">OPOKU <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[1962] 2 GLR 58<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"> 17TH JULY, 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">

QUIST
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">

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

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF
DJABANOR J.<o:p></o:p>By his statement of claim filed on the 30th September, 1961, (writ
issued on the 9th August 1961) the plaintiff claimed 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">“(1) The plaintiff is entitled to the possession of the plot of
land and premises known as No. 22 Block VIII, North Zongo, Kumasi, now in
occupation of the defendant Joseph Opoku or his sub-tenants. <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) The defendant entered into an undertaking on the 4th July,
1956, to develop the said plot by building a main residential house on it
within two years from that date and to pay on the 1st day of April in each year
a rent of £G18 5s. per annum. <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) The defendant having failed to comply with the terms of the
above mentioned undertaking the said Plot No. 22 Block VIII North Zongo was
lawfully and duly re-entered upon on behalf of the plaintiff with the intent of
determining the said undertaking on the 24th day of July, 1959. <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) After the said re-entry the said Joseph Opoku the defendant
wrongfully went into occupation and is still in occupation thereof.<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">And the plaintiff now claims:<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) Possession of the said premises.<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) A declaration that the defendant has no interest in the said
plot.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In his defence the defendant admitted that he entered into an
undertaking on the 4th July, 1956, as stated in paragraph (2) of the
plaintiff’s statement of claim but denied that the or plaintiff is entitled to
the possession of the plot. The plot has now been built upon.<o:p></o:p>The plaintiff claims to be entitled to the possession of the plot
on two main grounds; first that the defendant failed to pay the annual rent of
£G18 5s. reserved, and secondly that the defendant in breach of the covenant in
the undertaking failed to complete the building on the plot within two years
from the 4th July, 1956.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The written undertaking, the breach of which is the subject of
this action had been lost, but by consent a similar undertaking, made between
the plaintiff’s predecessors in title and another party was tendered.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>As I understand it the plain</main>