OMANE AND ANOTHER vs. POKU AND ANOTHER [1972]DLHC2402

Date	1972-11-27
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1972]DLHC2402

ANNAN J.A.

BOATENG FOR THE PLAINTIFF AND CO-PLAINTIFF.

C. F. HAYFRON-BENJAMIN FOR THE FIRST DEFENDANT.

MMIEH FOR THE SECOND DEFENDANT.

[1972]DLHC2402
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >OMANE AND ANOTHER <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>POKU AND ANOTHER <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT,
KUMASI]<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 <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:
27 NOVEMBER 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">

BOATENG FOR THE PLAINTIFF AND CO-PLAINTIFF.<o:p></o:p>

C. F. HAYFRON-BENJAMIN FOR THE FIRST DEFENDANT.<o:p></o:p>

MMIEH FOR THE SECOND DEFENDANT.<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">

ANNAN J.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF ANNAN J.A.<o:p></o:p>The
dispute in this action revolves around one Kofi Boakye, a national of the Ivory
Coast, who came to Ghana more than 60 years ago, lived here and married here
and also acquired property and died here. Kofi Boakye, it is admitted, died in
about August or September 1965. He left property including cocoa farms. Two of
these cocoa farms form the subject-matter of this action.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Almost
immediately after his death, rival claims were made in respect of his estate
and since the contestants were unable, after certain preliminary skirmishes, to
settle their differences, one of them, Opanin Kwaku Omane sued the other Barima
Kwasi Poku, claiming as successor of the late Kofi Boakye, a declaration of
title to the two cocoa farms, particulars of which appear on the writ of
summons, and also for a perpetual injunction and for further reliefs. These
farms are at Apatriatom on Nerebehi stool land and are said to have boundaries
in the one case with Kofi Siriboe, Afua Dokyiwah, Kofi Boakye, Kojo Addai and
Kwabena Akuto and in the other with Kojo Dagarti, Abena Kobi, Kojo Anka and
Kwaku Manu.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
plaintiff says in his statement of claim that he lives at Kona, where the late
Kofi Boakye lived for many years and up to his death.<o:p></o:p>He claims
to be a cousin of Kofi Boakye and that they both hailed from the Ivory Coast.
The statement of claim states further:<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) The
said late Kofi Boakye and the plaintiff have lived in this country for over 60
years and have become part of the family of the Bretuo clan in Kona. <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">(5) The
said Kofi Boakye died about four months ago and by a unanimous decision of the
entire family plaintiff was elected customary successor. <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">(6)
Accordingly plaintiff was given possession of the estate of the late Boakye
including the two farms the subject-matter of this action.<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">(7)
Plaintiff paid the customary drink of £G4 13s. to seal his successorship.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>These
paragraphs in the statement of claim set out the basis of the plaintiff’s claim
to title. The claim admits that Kofi Boakye was an Ivory Coast national at all
times and the plaintiff’s own position is no different. The plaintiff contends,
however, that Boakye lived in this country for over 60 years and both of them
became part of the family of the Bretuo clan in Kona. It was that family that
appointed the plaintiff successor to Kofi Boakye.<o:p></o:p>