SEY vs. CROMWELL AND ANOTHER [1973]DLHC2204

Date	1973-06-22
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1973]DLHC2204

CHARLES CRABBE J.

E. B. GAISIE FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

A. FORSON FOR THE FIRST DEFENDANT.

[1973]DLHC2204
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >SEY <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>CROMWELL AND ANOTHER <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;[1973]
2 GLR 412<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:
22 JUNE 1973.<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. B. GAISIE FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<o:p></o:p>

A. FORSON FOR THE FIRST 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">

CHARLES CRABBE J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF CHARLES CRABBE J.<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff is seeking, in this case, a declaration that a house situate at Agona
junction known as the Ghana National Trading Corporation retail stores,
hereinafter referred to as G.N.T.C., formerly the property of the late Joseph
O’Neil Cromwell, is vested in her by virtue of her appointment as customary
successor of the late George O’Neil Cromwell, a devisee of the late Joseph
O’Neil Cromwell. She is also asking for the payment of the sum of ¢432.00 being
accrued rents in respect of the store in that house rented to the second
defendants at the rate of ¢24.00 per month, which rent has been outstanding
since March 1969. She is also claiming as well mesne profits.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>By her
statement of claim the plaintiff states that she is the customary successor to,
and legal representative of the estate of, George O’Neil Cromwell. The first
defendant is the daughter of late Joseph O’Neil Cromwell. The late Joseph
O’Neil Cromwell by his will bequeathed his property at Agona junction to the
late George O’Neil Cromwell and his wife Ama Esson. The property was shared
between them and the house, the subject-matter of this action, was given to the
late George O’Neil Cromwell. When George O’Neil Cromwell died, members of his
family, the Ntwaa family of Dixcove, met and Matilda Brace, the original
plaintiff was appointed his successor. She was granted letters of
administration at Sekondi by the High Court on 8 February 1969. Some time in
October 1969, the first defendant brought an action against G.N.T.C. who were
the tenants of the plaintiff, claiming rents for the store. Upon application by
the second defendants the plaintiff was joined as a third party but this
joinder was subsequently set aside on 11 August 1970, for the failure of the
second defendants to take the necessary steps. The second defendants have
refused to pay the rent to the plaintiff since March 1969, and the first
defendant has threatened to remove the second defendants’ property from the
store.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>For her
part, the first defendant avers that when the plaintiff ‘s predecessor failed
to protect her interest in a suit at the circuit court, judgment was entered
for the first defendant. Consequent upon that judgment, the second defendants
paid to the first defendant the rents due on the property. She contends that
the sum claimed by way of rent has already been paid to the entitled person by
an order of a court of competent jurisdiction and that that order had not been
set aside. Since the circuit court case was disposed of, the second defendants
had left the premises. The issues agreed for the trial were:<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)
Whether or not the plaintiff is estopped. <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">(b)
Whether or not the said house was bequeathed to the late George O’Neil Cromwell
and his wife. <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">(c)
Whether or not the plaintiff is entitled to her claim.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In her
evidence Madam Johanna Sey, also called Aba Yehan, said that when her mother,
the original plaintiff in this case, died she was granted letters of
administration. George Cromwell was her cousin. When he died letters of
administration were given to her mother Matilda Brace. The late Joseph O’Neil
Cromwell was the father of the late George Cromwell and the first defendant in
this case. Joseph Cromwell left a will.<o:p></o:p>