PASTOR W. K. OFOSUHENE vs. THE TRUSTEES [2005]DLCA6567

Date	2005-02-04
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO.: H1/274/2004
Citation No.	[2005]DLCA6567

AKOTO BAMFO [MRS] JA

ASARE KORANG JA

OSEI JA

I. K. ANTWI FOR APPELLANTS

E.A. ANSAH FOR RESPONDENT

[2005]DLCA6567
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >PASTOR W. K. OFOSUHENE<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE TRUSTEES<o:p></o:p>(APPELLANTS)<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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CIVIL APPEAL NO.: H1/274/2004.&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: 4TH FEBRUARY, 2005<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>I. K. ANTWI FOR
APPELLANTS.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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&nbsp;E.A. ANSAH FOR RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>AKOTO BAMFO [MRS] JA,
ASARE KORANG JA, OSEI JA.<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="text-align:center;line-height:115%;
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solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>ASARE KORANG, J.A. <o:p></o:p>This
is an appeal against the judgment of Amoakwa Boadu, J. sitting in the High
Court, Nkawkaw, in which forum the Plaintiff/Respondent (Respondent for short)
had sued the Defendants/Appellants (Appellants for short) for<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;"Damages and compensation for Unlawful
Termination <o:p></o:p>of his appointment and Defamation of
his character."<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The learned trial judge entered judgment in
favour of the Respondent on his claim as follows:— <o:p></o:p>For
unlawful termination of appointment ¢20 million and <o:p></o:p>as
damages for defamation of character - ¢20 million <o:p></o:p>costs
of ¢7 million were also awarded against the Appellants.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;Against that judgment, the Appellants have
appealed on the following grounds:<o:p></o:p>(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;
The question of damages awarded by the
trial judge to the Plaintiff/Respondent is legally unjustified in the face of a
long line of decided cases on the award of damages for unlawful termination of
appointment. <o:p></o:p>(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;
The judgment with regard to the liability
of the Defendant/Appellant to the Plaintiff/Respondent for defamation is
against the evidence adduced at the trial.<o:p></o:p>(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The costs awarded to the
Plaintiff/Respondent is excessive ... " <o:p></o:p>Additional
grounds of appeal were filed by the Appellants.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;They read: <o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
"1. The learned trial judge erred when
he held that the alleged defamatory words were published by members of the
Apostolic Church-Ghana. <o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The trial judge erred when he held that 'all
and sundry the Church had concluded that the Plaintiff's termination was due to
promiscuity which was levelled against the Plaintiff.' <o:p></o:p>3.