ESSAH vs. SOFO [1972]DLHC2217

Date	1972-06-02
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1972]DLHC2217

EDUSEI J.

R. S. BLAY FOR THE APPELLANT.

T. A. MENSAH FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1972]DLHC2217
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ESSAH <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>SOFO <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT,
SEKONDI]<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 301<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:
2 JUNE 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">

R. S. BLAY FOR THE APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p>

T. A. MENSAH FOR THE RESPONDENT.<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">

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

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF EDUSEI J.<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff sued the defendant in the District Court Grade II, Nkroful, to assign
reasons for recklessly swearing the oath “Ehanu” against him. On the failure to
assign good reasons for so doing the plaintiff claimed from the defendant “the
sum of N¢200.00 damages for obstructing and depriving the plaintiff of his
livelihood on (his) plaintiff’s farm.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The case
first came before the trial court on 26 February 1970, and it was adjourned to
11 March 1970. It was again adjourned to 25 March 1970. On 25 March 1970, it
was further adjourned at the instance of both parties to 22 April 1970, and the
order of the court was as follows: “Case is adjourned sine die pending
settlement out of court.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On 8 July
1970, the solicitor for the plaintiff filed a motion under Order 52, r. 14 of
Schedule II to the Courts Ordinance, Cap. 4 (1951 Rev.), praying for “an order
that the arbitrators’ report be adopted, and judgment given to the plaintiff.”
The defendant filed an affidavit opposing the motion and paragraph 6 of the
affidavit reads as follows: “That I never at any time agreed to be bound by any
other decision of the chiefs except to effect a settlement between plaintiff
and defendant.” It is evident from the record of the proceedings that the
parties appeared before arbitrators and the proceedings of the arbitrators
which have been incorporated in the record, are entitled 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">“Settlement
of suit No. 50/70 by arbitrators from Esiama, Kikam and Asanta as requested by
his lordship Mr. J. E. Ekuban, District Magistrate Grade II, Axim, on 5 May
1970.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
reference of a case pending in a district court to arbitrators is governed by
Order 52, and rules 1, 2 and 3 of that Order are of some significance in this
appeal; they 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">“1. If
the parties to a suit are desirous that the matters in difference between them
in the suit or any of such matters should be referred to the final decision of
one or more arbitrator or arbitrators, they may apply to the Court at any time
before final judgment for an order of reference; and the Court may, on such
application, make an order of reference accordingly. <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
arbitrators shall be nominated by the parties in such manner as may be agreed
upon between them. If the parties cannot agree with respect to the nomination
of the arbitrators, or if the persons nominated by them shall refuse to accept
the arbitration, and the parties are desirous that the nomination shall be made
by the Court, the Court shall appoint the arbitrators. 3. The Court shall, by
an order under its seal, refer to the arbitrators the matters in difference in
the suit which they may be required to determine, and shall fix such time as it
may think reasonable for the delivery of the award, and the time so fixed shall
be specified in the order.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>There is
no record of the fact that the parti</main>