BUDU vs. AMPONSAH AND OTHERS [1989]DLCA564

Date	1989-02-15
Suit No.
Citation No.	[1989]DLCA564

OSEI-HWERE J.A

LAMPTEY J.A

ESSIEM J.A.

PETER ALA ADJETEY S. A. G. (WITH HIM LT-COL. (RTD.) ASANTE) FOR THE APPELLANT.

FRIMPONG-BOADU (WITH HIM BANKIE) FOR THE RESPONDENTS.

[1989]DLCA564
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >BUDU <o:p></o:p>vs. <o:p></o:p>AMPONSAH AND OTHERS <o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL]<o:p></o:p>[1989-90] 1 GLR 150<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:
15 FEBRUARY
1989<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">

PETER ALA ADJETEY, S. A. G. (WITH HIM LT-COL.
(RTD.) ASANTE) FOR THE APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p>

FRIMPONG-BOADU (WITH HIM BANKIE) FOR THE
RESPONDENTS.<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">

OSEI-HWERE, LAMPTEY AND ESSIEM JJ.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>JUDGMENT OF LAMPTEY J.A.<o:p></o:p>The
respondent, Amma Amponsah (hereinafter referred to as the plaintiff), sued the
appellant, Kwadwo Budu (hereinafter referred to as the defendant) in the High
Court, Koforidua. The plaintiff claimed against the defendant a declaration
that she and her brothers, sister and uterine cousins are entitled to the
administration and enjoyment of the following properties of the late Opanin
Kofi Owusu:<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)
House No. K/K 23, Abiriw, Akuapim. <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) A farmland
at Adinadim. <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) A
farm at Asamankese. <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) A
farm at Atuerede. <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">(e) A
farm at Odumasi Akim. <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">(f) Two
double barrel guns and a golden chain and other trinkets. <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">(g) An
order for possession; 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">(h)
Perpetual injunction against the defendant, his brothers and sisters, agents,
servants, successors and assigns from in any way interfering with any of and
all the properties.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
defendant resisted the claim of the plaintiff. The defendant also
counterclaimed against one Kwadwo Ofori described as a son of the plaintiff for
four reliefs as per the indorsement on his statement of defence and
counterclaim. The learned trial judge heard the case on the merits and entered
judgment for the plaintiff and dismissed the counterclaim of the defendant. In
his written judgment the learned trial judge stated 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">“The
properties now being claimed have now been proved conclusively to be the
self-acquired property of Kofi Owusu . . . I hold that the rightful person to
inherit (i.e. properties of Kofi Owusu) is the plaintiff . . . I order a
declaration of title to the plaintiff accordingly. I will for the reason given
dismiss the counterclaim.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
defendant is aggrieved by the decision of the trial judge and appealed to this
court on a number of grounds. Before I deal with the argument and submission of
learned counsel in this appeal I wish to make the following observations. In my
view the observations would assist in understanding and appreciating the real
issues in dispute between the parties herein and raised for the consideration
of the trial court. In the instant case, the pleadings showed that the action
was fought between the grandchildren of Kofi Owusu (deceased) as the plaintiffs
on the one hand and the nephew of Kofi Owusu (deceased) as the defendant on the
other hand. The interesting feature of this case is that the grandchildren of
the late Kofi Owusu including the plaintiff herein are all children of female
children, that is to say daughters of Kofi Owusu. The said Kofi Owusu did not
have a male child. The defendant, on the other hand is the son of a uterine
brother of the late Kofi </main>