EDMUND R. LARTEY AND THEO AKOFIO SOWAH [2001]DLCHRAJ6041

Date	2001-01-30
Suit No.	Our Ref: CHRAJ/197/99/497
Citation No.	[2001]DLCHRAJ6041

BENJAMIN K. OPPONG

[2001]DLCHRAJ6041
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;color:#00B050">EDMUND R. LARTEY<o:p></o:p>(COMPLAINANT)<o:p></o:p>AND<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;color:#00B050">THEO AKOFIO SOWAH<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT)<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">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt;text-align:center;
mso-pagination:none;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">(CHRAJ)<o:p></o:p>

Our Ref: CHRAJ/197/99/497&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; DATE:
30/01/2001<o:p></o:p>

</div>commissioner:<o:p></o:p>BENJAMIN
K. OPPONG DEPUTY COMMISSIONER LEGAL/OPERATIONS FOR COMMISSIONER<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;mso-pagination:none;
border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;
mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">DECISION<o:p></o:p>

</div>Mr.
Edmund R. Lartey's complaint is essentially for debt recovery.<o:p></o:p>In
his letter of complaint Mr. Lartey alleges that the respondent employed his
services to investigate and write a report on the construction of an Abattoir
in Kumasi in August/September 1997.<o:p></o:p>The complainant stated that on the 30th
September 1997 he handed over the report to the respondent. He went on to state
that after the presentation "there were subsequent additional assignment
in your office under your guidance and instructions which I also
completed". The complainant stated that the respondent promised that there
would be "a re-negotiation of the fees charged” because he complainant
raised the issue of 'actual period spent' by a professional on the site for a
total period of 48 (forty-eight days). The complainant's claim is for an amount
of ¢2,625,000.00.<o:p></o:p>The claim was the kind that could best be
resolved through a settlement especially because the complainant stated that
the respondent had promised a re-negotiation of the fee charged.<o:p></o:p>The respondent sent their comments to the
complainant which turned out to be a Partnership Establishment called Environ
4. They are architects, engineers, urbanists and engage in interior designs.
The respondent expressed the “greatest shock” at the complaint and stated that
"we do not owe Mr. Lartey any monies let alone an amount to the tune of c2,625,000.00.
We never agreed with Mr. Lartey on any remuneration for the alleged work”. They
explained that the complainant was assigned work to carry out measurement of
materials, pipes and cables to be used is the construction of an Abattoir in
Kumasi. The information was needed to enable the respondent to transact
business with a contractor. They said time was of the essence.<o:p></o:p>The respondent alleged that Mr. Lartey was
expected at the site at Kumasi on a particular date and was given a cheque of
¢300,000.00 as an incentive package with an undisclosed intention to reward him
if the exercise proved successful. They added that the complainant had
previously been in their office on many occasions asking to be given a job to
do. The respondent said they therefore decided to give the complainant the
opportunity to prove his worth so he was provided with the amount of c300,000
and it was arranged that the complainant should meet with the contractors
representative, travelling from Ho to meet the complainant at Kumasi for the
assignment.<o:p></o:p>The
respondent stated that to their utter dismay the complainant cashed the money
and for a period of three weeks, failed to show up at the site in Kumasi.
According to the respondent.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:.5in;text-align:justify;text-indent:.7pt;mso-pagination:none;
border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">“Mr.
Lartey, within that critical period, was located in his house in Accra on
various early mornings totally drunk and in various states of
intoxication."<o:p></o:p>The
narration went on that the contractor's representatives out of frustration left
the site at Kumasi; the intended business </main>