[2004]DLCA7107 Login to Read Full Case <span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; color:#00B0F0">GHANA EMULSION CO. LTD.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">(PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; color:#00B0F0">DEN DANSKE BANK ETC.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt;text-align:center; line-height:115%"><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">(DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">[COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">CIVIL APPEAL NO.: H3/236/2004</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif""> DATE: 23RD APRIL, 2004<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt; border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 2.25pt;border-right:none; padding:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 115%;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">CORAM: </span></b> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 115%;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 2.25pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">OWUSU J.A. (PRESIDING), OWUSU ANSAH J.A, MRS. ABBAN J.A.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> </div><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:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;mso-border-between:1.5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-between:1.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">RULING<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">OWUSU, J.A.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">This is an application for and on behalf of the Plaintiff/Appellant/Applicant praying for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Defendant/ Respondent by itself, servants, agents (including in particular Nii Armah Dodoo of KPMG, Mobil House, Accra) privies whomsoever or otherwise howsoever from taking over or in manner whatsoever assuming possession and/or control of all and singular the assets of the said plaintiff pending the hearing and determination of the appeal of the said plaintiff filed herewith. And for such further or other orders as to this honourable court may appearnjust and proper. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The appeal referred to was filed on 27/2/2004 against the ruling of His Lordship G.A. Aryeetey, J delivered on the 12th of December, 2003.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The said ruling, dismissed an action of the Plaintiff/Applicant herein in an application filed by the Defendant/Respondent under Order 25 rule 4 on the ground that same was vexations, frivolous and an abuse of the court process.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">The Defendant/Respondent, vehemently opposed the application contending that same is frivolous, vexatious and a gross abuse of the process of the court and has been brought in utter bad faith.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">In the affidavit in support of the motion, the applicant recounted the events that led to the institution of his action which was dismissed by Aryeetey, J on 15/12/2003.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">After the dismissal of the action, the applicant caused to be filed before the High Court a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction. This motion was dismissed by the court on 24/2/2004.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">Even though in paragraph 19 of the affidavit in support of the present application, the applicant avers that:—<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif""> I am advised and verily believe that by reason of the legal errors in the said Ruling plaintiff has a good chance of setting the same aside and therefore that plaintiff ought to move this honourable court to restrain the said Receiver and Manager from taking over the assets of the plaintiff Company pending the hearing and determination of the said appeal," no appeal has been filed against the ruling dismissing the application for interlocutory injunction. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">Arguing the application, counsel for the applicant told the court that the application was brought under rule 31(d) of the Court of Appeal Rules, 1997, C.I. 19.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">Counsel referred to the Notice of Appeal filed and exhibited as "Y.A.K.I." He submitted that the grant of the application is discretionary and that the order being sought for, is for the interim. He referred the court to the cases of VANDERPUIJE vrs. NARTEY [1977] 1 GLR. 428, BARNIEH vrs. MENSAH & OTHERS [1984-86] 2 GLR. 20 and REPUBLIC vrs. HIGH COURT, KUMASI Ex-Parte: DR. KWAME APPIAH POKU & 3 OTHERS. Civil Motion No. J. 5/12/2004 SC dated 5th April (unreported) and Order 50 rule 7(1). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">Rule 31(d) under which the application is brought, gives the court general power in determination of appeals. Among these powers, under 31(d) is the power to "make any" interim order or grant any injunction which the court below is authorised to make or grant:" and.........<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif""> It was counsel's submission therefore that under order 50 rule 7(1) of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules of 1954 LN. 140, the court below is authorised to grant such an order. Reading through the general powers of the court, one thing that is clear is that the powers given to the court can only be exercised in its appellate Jurisdiction. For the court to make an order which the court below could make, the appellate jurisdiction must first be invoked. No appeal has been filed against the ruling of Aryeetey, J. refusing the application for interlocutory injunction. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">Counsel for the applicant submitted that they invoked the appellate jurisdiction by filing the Notice of Appeal. The question is in respect of which ruling was the Notice of Appeal filed? Not against the ruling refusing the application for interlocutory injunction in the court below. Where the order had been sought for and refused in the court below, then what the applicant could have done if dissatisfied, was to have appealed against it but not come here to repeat the application. With all due deference to learned counsel th