TORTO vs. ANKRAH [1974]DLHC2337

Date	1974-04-25
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1974]DLHC2337

QUASHIE-SAM J.

NYARNOR FOR THE AUCTIONEER.

ASANTE TANNOR FOR THE JUDGMENT DEBTOR.

[1974]DLHC2337
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">TORTO<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">&nbsp;vs. <o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:Times;
mso-bidi-font-family:Times;color:#548DD4;mso-themecolor:text2;mso-themetint:
153">ANKRAH<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH COURT, KOFORIDUA]<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;[1974] 1 GLR 363<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

DATE:
25 APRIL 1974.<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">

NYARNOR
FOR THE AUCTIONEER.<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">

QUASHIE-SAM J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF QUASHIE-SAM J.<o:p></o:p>This is
an appeal against the decision of a district court grade I dated 19 August 1971
setting aside an auction sale on the grounds of an alleged irregularity.<o:p></o:p>It is
necessary to show the background of the matter. On 29 April 1971 the plaintiff,
Kardi Fulani, obtained judgment against the defendant, Beatrice Ankrah, for the
sum of ¢510.00 with ¢30.00 costs. This was on the admission of liability for
the debt by the defendant. At the instance of the plaintiff the house of the
defendant was to be sold under a writ of fi. fa. issued under the order of the
court in execution of the said judgment debt and costs. The sale was entrusted
by the deputy sheriff of Koforidua to Mr. Fred Obodai Torto, a licensed
auctioneer.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It is
conceded by the defendant judgment debtor that several notices for the
impending sale were issued by the auctioneer, but for some reason or other the
sale never came on till 31 July 1971 when it was again postponed, because it
rained and it was impossible to attract bidders. On 2 August 1971, however, the
sale was announced by local radio broadcast to take place on 5 August 1971 and
on that date the sale of the house was carried out by public auction. The
defendant then filed a motion to set aside the sale on grounds of alleged
irregularity.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
court, having heard both the auctioneer and learned counsel for the defendant
on the issue of irregularity of the sale, upheld counsel’s submission, granted
the motion, and set aside the sale of 5 August 1971. The court held that by
virtue of section 14 (1) of the Auction Sales Ordinance, Cap. 196 (1951 Rev.),
when the sale did not take place on 31 July 1971 the auctioneer should have
given fourteen days’ notice to the public before the next contemplated date for
sale; in this instant case, fourteen days’ notice before 5 August 1971.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It is
against this decision that Mr. Torto, the auctioneer has appealed. The issue
for determination in this appeal therefore is the period of notice. The
provisions relating to notice are found in section 14 (1) of the Auction Sales
Ordinance, Cap. 196 (1951 Rev.), which reads 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">“14. (1)
No sale by auction of any land shall take place until after at least fourteen
days’ public notice thereof has been made at the headquarters town of the
district in which the land is situated, and also at the place of the intended
sale. The notice shall be made not only by printed or written documents, but
also by beat of drum or such other method intelligible to uneducated persons as
may be prescribed, or if not so prescribed, as the District Commissioner of the
district where such sale is to take place may direct; and the notice shall
state the name and place of residence of the vendor. Any auctioneer who sells
any land by auction in contravention of the provisions of this section shall be
guilty of an offence, and on summary conviction thereof shall be liable to a
fine not exceeding one hundred pounds.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It was
not the case of the defendant judg</main>