DANKWA vs. TWUM [1971]DLHC2213

Date	1971-10-20
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1971]DLHC2213

BAIDOO J.

A. H. SACKEYFIO FOR THE DEFENDANT.

E. M AMPONSAH-DADZIE FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

OSEI FOR THE APPLICANT.

[1971]DLHC2213
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >DANKWA <o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;TWUM <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, CAPE
COAST]<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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[1972] 1 GLR 36<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

DATE:
20 OCTOBER 1971.<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">

A. H. SACKEYFIO FOR THE DEFENDANT.<o:p></o:p>

E. M AMPONSAH-DADZIE 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 windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

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

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF BAIDOO J.<o:p></o:p>In this
motion the applicant, Yaw Dankwa, contends he has been appointed the head of
family and so must be substituted in place of the plaintiff Abina Twum as the
action herein is in respect of their family land and the plaintiff who is an
ordinary member of the family has been given no mandate to sue on behalf of the
family. There are about five similar actions pending in this court and in each
case a similar motion has been filed by Yaw Dankwa. One of these cases, as I
understand, was agreed to be taken as a test case and the same is part-heard
before Griffiths-Randolph J. now on transfer to Tamale.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It is
evident from the affidavit filed by the plaintiff in that test case that she is
strenuously resisting the attempt by Yaw Dankwa to get her struck off or
displaced as plaintiff, since she maintains that Yaw Dankwa’s alleged
appointment as head of family was made without her knowledge and concurrence
and is therefore void.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
action herein was originally filed by the plaintiff as far back as 22 February
1968 in the Grade II District Court at Nyakrom but on an objection being raised
by the defendant to the jurisdiction of the district court due to the value of
the land in dispute the case was transferred for hearing in this court. It will
be seen from the title of the suit that the plaintiff has adopted the title or
appellation of obaahimaa (i.e. queenmother) and in paragraphs (1) and (2) of
her statement of claim she has specifically pleaded 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 was at the time this action was instituted the caretaker of the Agona
stool (Adasemase section) of Agona Nyakrom. With the appointment of a
substantive occupant of the said stool about two months ago, the plaintiff
still remains the most senior female member and head of the said family. The
defendant is a native of Gomoa Obiri now resident at Agona Swedru. <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
plaintiff ‘s family are the owners of the land in dispute described in the writ
of summons, which forms part of their ancestral land known as `Sampraku’.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In reply
to the above averments, the defendant pleaded 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
defendant cannot deny or admit paragraph (1) of the statement of claim, but
admits that she is a native of Gomoa Obiri and resident at Agona Swedru. <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) In
answer to paragraphs (2)-(7), the defendant confirms paragraph (8) of the
statement of defence that the land in dispute was purchased by her uncle from
the ancestors of the plaintiff. ‘The sale transaction is covered by a deed of
conveyance duly executed.”<o:p></o:p>