PAS TIMBER CO. LTD. vs. AMANING AND ANOTHER [1987]DLSC797

Date	1987-07-07
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1987]DLSC797

ABBAN JA

WUAKU JA

AMUA-SEKYI J.A.

CANN (WITH HIM WINNEY AND QUARSHIE) FOR THE APPELLANT.

APPIAH AMPONSAH (WITH HIM KYEREMEH) FOR THE RESPONDENT

[1987]DLSC797
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >PAS TIMBER CO. LTD. <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>AMANING AND ANOTHER <o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>[1987-88] 1 GLR 341<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
7 JULY 1987<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">

CANN (WITH HIM WINNEY AND QUARSHIE) FOR THE
APPELLANT. <o:p></o:p>

APPIAH AMPONSAH (WITH HIM KYEREMEH) FOR THE
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;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

ABBAN, WUAKU AND AMUA-SEKYI JJ.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF ABBAN J.A.<o:p></o:p>Abban
J.A. delivered the judgment of the court. This is an appeal from the ruling of
the High Court, Accra. The first defendant-appellant had applied to the High
Court to have the writ of summons dismissed for having been issued out of the
Accra registry instead of the High Court, Sekondi where the first
defendant-appellant resides. There are two defendants, that is the first
defendant-appellant and one Kojo Yakah who according to the plaintiffs resides
at Akim Asene in the Eastern Region.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Thus by
rule 1 (7) of High Court (Civil Procedure) (Amendment) Rules, 1977 (L.I. 1107)
the action ought to have been commenced either in the High Court, Koforidua
where the second defendant resides or in Sekondi where the first defendant has
its registered office.<o:p></o:p>This is a
running down case; and the accident occurred in the Eastern Region. In other
words, the cause of action arose in the Eastern Region. It is obvious that the
High Court, Accra was not the proper and convenient forum where the action
ought to be brought. It could either be Sekondi or Koforidua but certainly not
Accra.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
learned trial judge in his ruling indicated that the application to set aside
the writ under L.I. 1107 was misconceived. We are inclined to agree with that
view. But we do not seem to agree with his holding that since counsel could not
agree to get the case transferred to either Koforidua or Sekondi in accordance
with rule 1 (7) of L.I. 1107, he was entitled to exercise his discretion to order
that the case be heard in Accra.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In our
view, he ought to have reported the pendency of the action to the Chief Justice
under rule 1 (9) of L.I. 1107 who, having regard to the circumstances of the
case, would then decide to give the necessary directions as to the venue where
the action should be tried.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Consequently,
we would allow the appeal and set aside the order made by the court below. In
place thereof, we will order that the pendency of the case be reported to the
Chief Justice for directions under the said rule 1 (9) of L.I. 1107. We make no
order as to costs.<o:p></o:p>Court
below to carry out.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></main>