SAROBI LIMITED vs. N.P.T. KUPUALOR [2004]DLCA6961

Date	2004-05-13
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. 38/2001
Citation No.	[2004]DLCA6961

OWUSU J.A. [PRESIDING]

ANSAH J.A.

OWUSU ANIM J.A.

W.O. BOAFO FOR RESPONDENT.

[2004]DLCA6961
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >SAROBI LIMITED<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>N.P.T. KUPUALOR<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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APPEAL NO. 38/2001&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: 13TH MAY, 2004<o:p></o:p>

W.O. BOAFO FOR RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>OWUSU
J.A. [PRESIDING], ANSAH J.A., OWUSU ANIM J.A.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>OWUSU,
J.A.:<o:p></o:p>This
is an appeal against the ruling of His Lordship Justice S.G. Baddoo, Justice of
appeal (as he then was), sitting as an additional Justice of the Fast Track
High Court, delivered on 6th September, 2001. The Plaintiff/Respondent herein
is a member and then chairman of the Association of Building and Civil
Contractors of Ghana in the Central Region, while the Defendant was the
National president of the said Association. <o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff issued a writ of summons against the Defendant claiming the following
reliefs:<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(a) "A declaration that the Defendant has
over stayed his term of office as the National President of the Association of
Building and Civil Contractors and an order for his removal.”<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(b) Appointment of an interim Management
Committee." <o:p></o:p>(c)
Appointment External Auditors to audit the accounts of the Association from
January 15th 2000, to date."<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(d) An order to restrain the Defendant from
Exercising any power or performing any function as the National President of
the said Association including without limitation the management and Control of
the finances or accounts of the Association."<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(e) An election of a National President to be
held within a specified period under the auspices of National Electoral
Commission."<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The writ was accompanied by a statement of
claim. <o:p></o:p>On
7/8/2001, the Defendant entered appearance but did not file a defence. On
8/9/2001, the plaintiff filed an application for summary Judgment under Order
14 rule 1 of the High Court Civil procedure Rules L.N. 140A as amended by L.I.
1127.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;In the supporting affidavit the plaintiff
averred that under the constitution of the Association, the National president
and the cabinet appointed by him, constitute the steering Committee and they
could hold office for a period of four (4) years from the date of the election
of the National president.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;Thus the Defendant having been elected
National President on or about 15/1/96 his term of office expired on or about
14/1/2000. <o:p></o:p>On
16/8/2001, the Defendant filed a statement of Defence and an affidavit in
opposition to the application for summary judgment. <o:p></o:p>On
22/8/2001, the Defendant filed a motion on notice to set aside the writ of
summons and dismiss the suit under order 12 rule 24 of the Civil Procedure
(High Court) Rules, L.N. 140A.<o:p></o:p>The
Defendant averred in the affidavit in support of the motion that by failing to
go to arbitration in contravention of Article 37 of the Constitution of the
association, the plaintiff's action before the court is premature frivolous and
vexations. <o:p></o:p>The
application was opposed by Counsel for the plaintiff who contended that the
Defendant's application was misconceived as the Defendant entered unconditional
appearance instead of conditional appearance or appearance under protest. <o:p></o:p>Having
entered unconditional appearance the Defendant could not proceed under Order 12
rule 24 to have the plaintiff's writ of summons set aside. <o:p></o:p>Under
Order 12 (4) rule 24 which reads as follows:—<o:p></o:p>"A defendant before appearing
shall be at liberty without obtaining an order to enter or entering a
conditional appearance, to take out a summons or serve notice of motion to set
aside the service upon him of the writ or of notice of the writ or to discharge
the order authorising such service." <o:p></o:p>The
learned trial judge afte</main>