BALLMOOS vs. MENSAH [1986]DLSC890

Date	1986-06-26
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1986]DLSC890

ABBAN JA

OSEI-HWERE JA

AMUA-SEKYI JA

[1986]DLSC890
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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BALLMOOS <o:p></o:p>

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

[1984-86] 1 GLR 724<o:p></o:p>

DATE:
26 JUNE 1986<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">

MIKE OCQUAYE FOR THE DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. <o:p></o:p>

AYIKOI OTOO FOR THE PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT.<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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ABBAN, OSEI-HWERE AND AMUA-SEKYI JJA<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF OSEI-HWERE JA<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff sued out a writ in the High Court, Accra for the following reliefs
against 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">(a) Declaration of title to a
piece of land at Odawkwa measuring 200 feet by 600 feet;<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) Recovery of possession;<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) ¢5 million damages for
trespass; and<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">(d) Perpetual injunction.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The writ
was accompanied by a statement of claim. That same day the writ was sealed. He
subsequently filed his motion on notice for an interim injunction to restrain
the defendant from carrying out building operations on the land.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
motion came before Ammah J who after he had taken some pains to inquire into
the allegation and denials evoked by the affidavits of the parties by
inspecting the disputed land, ruled in favour of the plaintiff’s motion subject
to the plaintiff giving an undertaking as to damages. Aggrieved by the
interlocutory order of injunction obtained against him the defendant has
appealed to this court.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
plaintiff’s affidavit supporting his motion disclosed that he bought his land
in 1976 from one Samuel A Acquaye. The sale is evidenced by a deed stamped and
registered as No 2695/1976. The plaintiff’s vendor, in turn, derived his title
from the Sempe stool. The plaintiff entered into possession and fenced his land
by using pillars and steel wires. He laid a pipe to connect water to the site
and he deposited cement blocks on the land. In July 1985 his attention was
drawn to the defendant’s trespass to the land. He found that the defendant had
dug a foundation for a proposed building. He contacted the defendant who
delegated his brother to make a search with him at the Lands Department. The
search disclosed that the land has been registered in the plaintiff’s name,
whereupon he warned the defendant to desist from committing further acts of
trespass. The plaintiff visited the land in July 1985 only to discover that the
defendant was carrying out frantic building operations on the land and that
part of his fence and some of his pillars had been broken down to gain access
to the land.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In his
affidavit in answer, the defendant deposed that he owns a plot of land at
McCarthy Hill by virtue of a deed of conveyance dated 13 June 1985 between John
Richard Nii Awuley and family (as the vendors) and himself (as the purchaser).
His deed was stamped and registered in 1985-and the land bought measures 100</main>