SHALABI AND ANOTHER vs. THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL [1972]DLHC2420

Date	1972-11-26
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1972]DLHC2420

HAYFRON-BENJAMIN J.

E. D. KOM FOR THE PLAINTIFFS.

MRS. J. AMANKWA SENIOR STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENDANT.

[1972]DLHC2420
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >SHALABI AND ANOTHER <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL <o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT,
ACCRA]<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 259<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:
26 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">

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

MRS. J. AMANKWA, SENIOR STATE ATTORNEY, FOR THE
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">

HAYFRON-BENJAMIN J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF HAYFRON-BENJAMIN J.<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiffs are partners in the firm of Messrs. Shalabi Transport Service,
Accra, registered under the Incorporated Private Partnerships Act, 1962 (Act
152), registered No. P. 208. The first plaintiff was born in the then Gold
Coast on 30 September 1933 and the second plaintiff on 13 September 1935. Their
parents were Lebanese. By reason of their birth in the Gold Coast, the
plaintiffs were British subjects. The foregoing facts are admitted by the
defence.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
plaintiffs go on and aver in their statements of claim that they were holders
of British passports and gave the numbers of their passports. They held their
passports until the Ghana Nationality Decree, 1967 (N.L.C.D. 191), was made,
when they renounced their British nationality and applied for and obtained
Ghanaian passports on 30 September 1968 and 24 October 1968 respectively. With
the passage of the Ghanaian Business (Promotion) Act, 1970 (Act 334), which
seeks to restrict the activities of aliens in certain sectors of the economy,
the plaintiffs instructed their solicitors in view of the provisions of Ghana
Nationality (Amendment) Decree, 1969 (N.L.C.D. 333), to seek a confirmation
from the authorities that they were Ghanaians and free to carry on their
transport business without hindrance. Their solicitors were told that the
authorities hold the view that the plaintiffs are neither Ghanaian nor British
citizens, but Lebanese. They therefore took out a writ for a declaration that
they are Ghanaian citizens and as such entitled to carry on running their
transport firm without let or hindrance.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The only
serious defence put forward by the defence is found in paragraph (5) of the
statement of defence, which states that “The defendant hereby maintains that
the Decree 333 affected those who had acquired citizenship under Decree 191.”
The only issue set down for trial on the summons for directions was whether or
not the amendment of N.L.C.D. 191 by N.L.C.D. 333 does affect or is intended to
affect those who had already acquired citizenship under the Decree No. 191.<o:p></o:p>The whole
case therefore turns upon the effect of N.L.C.D. 333.<o:p></o:p>This
decree provides 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
Ghana Nationality Decree, 1967 (N.L.C.D. 191) is hereby amended by the
substitution for paragraph 1 thereof, of the following paragraph: 1. A person
born in Ghana is a citizen of Ghana by birth if-<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)
having been born in Ghana before the date of commencement of the Ghana<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">Independence
Act, 1957 (L.N. 63), that is to say, the 6th day of March 1957,<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">(i) he
was immediately before that date a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies
or a British protected person, and (ii) one at least of his parents or
grandparents was born in Ghana or (b) having been born in Ghana after the 6th
day of March 1957 one at least of his parents at the time of his birth was a
citizen of Ghana.’ 2. This Decree shall be deemed to have come into force on
the 25th day of July, 1967.”<o:p></o:p>