RE CLAIMS BY LA MANTSE AND OTHERS RE-ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR PRESBYTERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL [1965]DLHC1847

RE CLAIMS BY LA MANTSE AND OTHERS RE-ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR PRESBYTERIAN SECOND... [1965]DLHC1847

Date	1965-02-13
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1965]DLHC1847

ACOLATSE J.S.C.

COWLISHAW FOR THE CHIEF LANDS OFFICER (LEGAL) FOR THE STATE.

[1965]DLHC1847
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >RE CLAIMS BY LA MANTSE AND OTHERS RE-ACQUISITION OF<o:p></o:p>LAND FOR PRESBYTERIAN SECONDARY SCHOOL <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[1965] GLR 50<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">

DATE:
13 FEBRUARY 1965.<o:p></o:p>

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

COWLISHAW FOR THE CHIEF LANDS OFFICER (LEGAL) FOR
THE STATE.<o:p></o:p>

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

ACOLATSE J.S.C.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF ACOLATSE J.S.C.<o:p></o:p>This
inquiry came before this court, under the Public Lands (Leasehold) Ordinance,1
in respect of a piece of land to the north-east of the junction of the
Accra-Abokobi and the Accra-Dodowa roads at mile 9 from Accra. It encloses an
area of 244.446 acres and is more particularly delineated and shown edged pink
on a cadastral plan numbered 2.2442 attached to the certificate of title,
exhibit O. The land was vested in the government on 16 September 1955 in
respect of which a certificate of title was granted by the court on 14 December
1955. The land was required for public purposes for a Presbyterian Secondary
School at a site adjoining the Accra-Dodowa road on the eastern side of the
road. Notice of the intended acquisition was published in Gazette No. 2959,
dated 7 October 1955 under section 5 of the Ordinance, calling upon any person
claiming to be entitled to the said land or any estate or interest therein to
send in a signed statement in writing, stating the particulars of the estate or
interest claimed, the evidence of title and the amount of compensation claimed
therefore. The Gazette notice is put in and marked exhibit M by the Chief Lands
Officer.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>As a
result of the publication of the said notice in the Gazette and the service and
posting, the La Mantse and the Teshie Mantse entered into correspondence with
the Commissioner of Lands, on 18 October 1955 and 26 November 1955
respectively, each indicating his claim to the acquired land as shown in
exhibit P, claiming to be seised, possessed of or entitled to the land.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
evidence of the Deputy Chief Lands Officer, Mr. Cowlishaw, shows that the
Nungua stool executed a deed of covenant on 21 December 1951 permitting the
government to acquire the land in dispute subject to compensation being agreed
to later. Apart from this evidence the Nungua stool did not make any formal
written claim when the acquisition notice was published and posted on the land.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
marginal note to section 7 (1) of the Public Lands (Leasehold) Ordinance,
provides that the “Time within which claim to be made, and conditions with
which it must comply.” The Gazette notice made it clear that any person
claiming to be entitled to the said land was required to lodge his claim at an
office of the Lands Department on or before 31 March 1956.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
conditions specified under section 7 (2) and (3) of the said Ordinance referred
to above are 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">“Every
such statement of claim shall -<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">(a) Be in
writing signed by or on behalf of the claimant; <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">(b) State
the nature and particulars of the estate or interest of the claimant (by
reference to a plan of the land where necessary) and of the evidence of the
title thereto; <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">(c) state
the amount of compensation claimed, distinguishing the heads mentioned in
subsection (1) of section 15 under which compensation is claimed, and showing
how the amount claimed under each head is calculated; and <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">(d) Be
received at an office of the Lands Department before the date specified for
this purpose in the Gazette notice. (3) No claim within the meaning of this
Ordinance shall be deemed to have been made unless the statement thereof
complies with all the provisions of the last foregoing subsection.”<o:p></o:p>