MANU vs. AINOO AND ANOTHER [1973]DLCA405

Date	1973-02-24
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1973]DLCA405

APALOO J.A

ANIN J.A

FRANCOIS J.A.

ESSIEN FOR THE APPELLANT.

OFORI-ATTA FOR THE RESPONDENTS.

[1973]DLCA405
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MANU<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;vs. <o:p></o:p>AINOO AND ANOTHER<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[COURT
OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[1976] 1 GLR 457<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:
24 FEBRUARY 1976.<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">

ESSIEN FOR THE APPELLANT.<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">

APALOO, ANIN AND FRANCOIS JJ.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF FRANCOIS J.<o:p></o:p>The issue
for determination in this appeal may be simply stated. It is whether an abunu
or abusa tenant farmer can sue for accounts. The answer can equally readily be
given, and it is in the affirmative. But since the circuit judge who heard the
matter and the respondents herein take a different view of the law, it is
necessary to examine the matter in a little more detail. But first, the facts.
By his writ filed on 11 July 1972, the plaintiff-appellant (hereinafter
referred to as the appellant) sought an:<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)
Order for accounts of the proceeds of the cocoa and coconut collected from the
farm of the late Winney by the defendant. <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)
Injunction restraining the defendant from interfering with the plaintiff’s
rights in respect of late Winney’s farm. Alternatively the plaintiff claims
damages for breach of contract of employment.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Giving
the history of the case the appellant stated that he had entered the service of
the late J. A. Winney, first as head labourer on Winney’s farms and
subsequently as an abunu tenant. In 1950, a document recording this contractual
relationship had been executed by them setting out in some detail the terms of
employment and the consideration for the same. This document was tendered as
exhibit A. It was the appellant’s case that Winney’s successors had trammelled
upon and abrogated his right under the agreement. He was therefore constrained
to seek redress in the courts.<o:p></o:p>Though
inelegantly couched, there is no difficulty in construing exhibit A as
recording a customary tenancy agreement. But the importance it assumes in this
requires that it be fully set out. It is 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">“An
agreement made between James Amahia Winney of Sekondi known as farmer and Yaw
Manu alias John do good of Gono-Kyibili in Grunshie District now at Sekondi,
known as principal labourer working under the said farmer in his farms on terms
and conditions 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
farmer has agreed to allow the principal labourer to superintend the various
farms and crops such as cocoa farms, banana, oranges, grape fruits, lime, coconuts,
pepper, tomatoes, pineapples, plantain, fowls, etc. <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
principal labourer has agreed to undertake the said farms from time to time as
long as he remains with the farmer on the coast. <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">(3) The
farmer will employ labourers periodically to maintain the said farms under the
said principal labourer who will superintend and direct the labourers what to
do in the interest of both farmer and principal labourer. <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) It is
understood that the crops of the farms when sold the costs of the labourers and
other expenses will be deducted and the balance amount will be divided into two
equal shares, i.e. one half to the farmer (J. A. Winney) and the other one half
to the principal labourer (John do good alias Yaw Manu). <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)
Should the principal labourer decide to leave for his native town he will give
the farmer six months’ notice in writing of his intention to stop working with
him. <o:p></o:p>