BEDU AND OTHERS vs. AGBI AND OTHERS [1972]DLCA2208

Date	1972-07-03
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1972]DLCA2208

ZU CRABBE J.S.C

LASSEY JA

ARCHER J.A.

E. D. KOM FOR THE APPELLANTS.

JOE REINDORF FOR THE RESPONDENTS.

[1972]DLCA2208
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >BEDU AND OTHERS <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>AGBI AND OTHERS <o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL]<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] 2 GLR 238<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:
3 JULY 1972.<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">

E. D. KOM FOR THE APPELLANTS.<o:p></o:p>

JOE REINDORF FOR THE RESPONDENTS.<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">

AZU CRABBE J.S.C., LASSEY AND ARCHER
JJ.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF ARCHER J.A.<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiffs-appellants, hereinafter called the plaintiffs, as representatives of
the Dzutormawa family of Akpafu Todzi in the Volta Region sued the
defendants-respondents, hereinafter called the defendants, for a declaration of
title to a piece of land described in the statement of claim 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">“On the
east by the family property of Matedua family headed by Efia Akrasi. On the
south by the family property of Masakyiri family headed by Francis K. Odum of
Akpafu Todzi. On the west by the Fio River. On the north by the property of
three families: (1) Dzakua family headed by one Doh who had died before the
writ was issued, (2) Kpadzia family headed by Atukura from Akpafu Odomi and lastly
by the property of Masakyiri family of Akpafu Odomi whose head is Adra.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
plaintiffs also sought recovery of possession of the said land, perpetual
injunction against the defendants, their agents or servants, damages for
trespass, accounts for tributes and rents collected by the defendants and mesne
profits. The basis for their claim was that the land in question was originally
founded by their ancestor called Dzutor by settlement and that since Dzutor’s
death, all his lineal descendants, have been in possession and occupation of
the land without interruption from anyone.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
defendants disputed the claim of the plaintiffs and asserted their claim to the
land on the ground that the land was first settled by their own ancestor, one
Tsitor, and that the land had been possessed by Tsitor’s descendants, including
the defendants, known as the Mako family. After hearing evidence from both
parties, the High Court sitting at Ho dismissed the claim of the plaintiffs on
the ground that although they had succeeded in proving, almost all the
boundaries mentioned in their claim, they had failed to prove the northern
boundary. The two grounds of appeal argued together before this court were
that:<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 learned trial judge erred
in law in holding that the plaintiffs-appellants have failed to prove their
northern boundary.<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 judge erred in law in
that he held that the plaintiffs-appellants have not discharged the onus of proof.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>These
arguments stemmed from the evidence of one witness for the plaintiffs. This
witness, Francis Kwaku Odoom, in a previous litigation with the defendants at
the High Court, Ho, had called the second plaintiff, Winfried Asamani, to
testify that he, the witness, owned the land north of Odoom’s land. The judgment
of the court was tendered in the present case in the court below as exhibit C.
Two extracts from that judgment read 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">“According
to the surveyor, both the plaintiff and the defendants agreed that the land
south of P.13-P.32 the arbitrators’ boundary line was the property of the
defendants’ family. Agyeman Bedu’s land was on the northern boundary of the
land in dispute. Agyeman Bedu was present at the survey and pointed out the
boundary of his land.”<o:p></o:p>