OWUSU-AFRIYIE vs. STATE HOTELS CORPORATION [1975]DLHC418

Date	1975-05-14
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1975]DLHC418

HAYFRON-BENJAMIN J.A.

H. P. SWANIKER FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

C. B. K ZWENNES (BROWN WITH HIM) FOR THE DEFENDANTS.

[1975]DLHC418
																																						<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" >OWUSU-AFRIYIE <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>STATE HOTELS CORPORATION<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH
COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[1976] 1 GLR 247<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:
14 MAY 1975.<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">

H. P. SWANIKER FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<o:p></o:p>

C. B. K ZWENNES (BROWN WITH HIM) FOR THE
DEFENDANTS.<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.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF HAYFRON-BENJAMIN J.A.<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff’s claim against the defendants is for general damages for her
wrongful dismissal and an order for her reinstatement. In 1964 she was engaged
by the defendants, who are state hotel operators as a catering officer. Her letter
of employment signed by the defendants’ then managing director states:<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 am
happy to offer you employment with the corporation as a catering officer
attached to the Ambassador Hotel, Accra, provided you are in good health, to
perform all the duties that shall be expected of you in a satisfactory manner,
such employment to date from 8th June, 1964. <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
appointment carries a basic salary, of £G600 x 20-£G720 per annum, and you
would enter the scale at £G600 per annum. You will be on probation for six
months from the date of this letter of appointment on a day to day basis the
corporation reserving to itself the right to terminate this appointment on
giving one week’s notice in writing or in payment of an equivalent sum in lieu
when such appointment shall automatically cease. <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
period of your probation shall continue and no change shall be made thereto
until the corporation is satisfied as to your ability, efficiency, honesty and
general conduct when your appointment may be confirmed in writing by the
managing director. Provided these conditions are satisfactory you would be
entitled to receive annual increment in the scale on your incremental date,
namely, 8th June. <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) In
the event of your appointment being confirmed in the manner aforesaid you
would, also, be entitled to participate in all of the benefits of the staff
provident fund. (5) Kindly state in writing, at your earliest possible
convenience, whether you accept the offer of appointment on these terms.”<o:p></o:p>Prior to
her engagement by the defendant, the plaintiff had trained in London and Paris
in the catering and hotel business, there being at that time no facilities for
such courses in Ghana. At the time of the institution of this case, it would
seem she was no longer on probation, as this was not canvassed by the defendant
corporation.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
defendant corporation was first set up under the Instrument of Incorporation of
Ghana Hotels and Tourist Corporation, 1963 (E.I. 7), which was later
substituted by the Instrument of Incorporation of the State Hotels Corporation,
1965 (L.I. 403), made under the Statutory Corporations Act, 1964 (Act 232). It
is easily the largest hotel operator, and occupies a dominant position in the
hotel industry in the country. It is the largest employer of trained hotel
staff. It operates the Ambassador, the Star, the Continental, and the Airport
Hotels, in Accra, the City Hotel in Kumasi, the Atlantic Hotel,
Sekondi-Takoradi, and catering rest-houses in all the regional capitals, and
also some beach chalets and game lodges. Some of these hotels and rest-houses
were commissioned or acquired subsequent to the engagement of the plaintiff by
the defendant corporation.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In the
events that happened it would seem that the statement in the plaintiff’s letter
of appointment that she was to be attached to the Ambassador Hotel was not
understood to preclude the defendant corporation from transferring her to other
establishments even outside Accra.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>