BOATENG AND OTHERS vs. BOATENG [1988]DLCA660

Date	1988-07-07
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1988]DLCA660

WUAKU J.S.C

AMPIAH JA

ESSIEM J.A.

W.N ADUMUA-BOSSMAN FOR THE APPELLANTS.

T. A. TOTOE FOR THE RESPONDENT

<p class="mb-5" id="contentDlCitation"  hidden>[1988]DLCA660</p>
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#00B0F0">BOATENG AND OTHERS</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:
&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#00B0F0"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#00B0F0">vs.</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:
&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#00B0F0"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#00B0F0">BOATENG</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:
&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#00B0F0"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">[COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1.5pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">

</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: 15.55pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">W.N ADUMUA-BOSSMAN FOR THE APPELLANTS.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1.5pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">T. A. TOTOE FOR THE
RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">WUAKU
J.S.C, AMPIAH AND ESSIEM JJ.A.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">JUDGMENT OF WUAKU J.S.C.</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">I have had the advantage of reading the judgment which my learned
brother Essiem J.A. is about to deliver. In my opinion, this case is a very
clear one. If there was any issue for trial in this case, it was only one, ie
whether the disputed building situated on plot No GC 3 Ejisu, Ashanti was a
self-acquired property belonging to the late George Addo Boateng and, in which
case, he could have devised it to the defendants and the deceased’s other
children. The plaintiff says that it is a family house built jointly by the
late George Addo Boateng, Akua Afriyie (the mother of George Addo Boateng and Beatrice
Adjeiwaa), Beatrice Adjei (Adjeiwaa) also known as Mrs Beatrice Peprah and the
plaintiff, D. C. Boateng. The defendants say nay, and that it was built by
George Addo Boateng alone through his own effort. Since the defendants have
counterclaimed for title and possession they had equal burden of proof on them.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">There is sufficient documentary evidence that the plot on which
the house was built was jointly acquired by all the four persons. I am of the
view that for either party to succeed, there must be evidence from the
plaintiff that he, Akua Afriyie and Beatrice Adjeiwaa (Mrs Beatrice Peprah)
substantially contributed towards the building of the house: see Larbi v Cato
[1960] G.L.R. 146, C.A.; and on the part of the defendants, that the house was built
by George Addo Boateng alone without any contributions from the other three
named persons, i.e Akua Afriyie, Beatrice Adjei and D.C. Boateng, and even if
there was any contribution it was very insignificant or insubstantial.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">The plaintiff was able to lead evidence to show that all the
expenses towards the building were made by him, Akua Afriyie, Beatrice Adjei
and with assistance from Beatrice Adjei’s husband, Mr Peprah; George Addo
Boateng’s contribution, if any, was insignificant. Indeed the evidence showed
that George Addo Boateng was living on the generosity of his mother, Akua
Afriyie, and Beatrice Adjei (Adjeiwaa) or Mrs Beat</main>