MIREKU vs. YEBUAH [1985]DLCA945

Date	1985-03-20
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1985]DLCA945

FRANCOIS JA

MENSA BOISON JA

OSEI-HWERE J.A.

C. O. NYANOR FOR THE APPELLANT

C. A. LOKKO FOR THE RESPONDENT.

[1985]DLCA945
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MIREKU <o:p></o:p>

{COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA} <o:p></o:p>

[1984-86] 1 GLR 326<o:p></o:p>

DATE:
20 MARCH 1985<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>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">

C.
O. NYANOR 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;
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FRANCOIS, MENSA BOISON AND OSEI-HWERE JJ.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF OSEI-HWERE J.A.<o:p></o:p>Osei-Hwere
J.A. delivered the judgment of the court. On 11 August 1977 the
plaintiff-respondent (hereinafter referred to as the plaintiff) sealed her writ
in the High Court, Accra claiming against the defendant-appellant (hereinafter
referred to as the defendant) a declaration of title to a piece of land,
particularly described; damages for trespass; and recovery of possession.
Because of the unpredictable turn the trial of the case took at the court below
it will be pertinent to bring into focus the issues in dispute by quoting both
the statement of claim and the defence. These are formulated 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">“STATEMENT
OF CLAIM <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
plaintiff is the owner of the plot of land situate lying and being at
Maamobi-Dzorwulu, Accra and described in the plaintiff‘s writ of summons. <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
said plot was granted to the plaintiff in 1961 by the then Osu Mantse, Nii Noi
Dowuna IV, and evidenced by a deed of conveyance dated 23 October 1961
registered in the Lands Registry as No. 2178/1977. <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
Sometime in or about the month of May 1977, the plaintiff discovered that the
defendant had without her consent entered upon or otherwise trespassed on the
said land and built thereon. <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 The
said trespass is continuing in that the defendant has taken up occupation of
the land. <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 By
reason of the matters complained of the plaintiff has suffered damages. <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">6
Wherefore the plaintiff claims as per her writ of summons.” <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">“STATEMENT
OF DEFENCE <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 That
the defendant denies paragraphs 1 and 2 of the statement of claim and will put
the plaintiff to strict proof of the averments in the said paragraphs. <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 In
further answer to paragraphs 1 and 2 of the statement of claim, the defendant
says that in or about 1959 the then Osu Mantse customarily granted the land in
dispute to the defendant and he immediately went into occupation and possession
of the land and started developing it. <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
defendant says further to the said paragraphs 1 and 2 that by the year 1960 he
had constructed a concrete wall around the land and started building operations
without any interruption or opposition by anybody. <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 The
defendant denies paragraph 3 of the statement of cla</main>