ABUSALAM ZENABU vs. MADAM AMA NKRUMAH & 2 ORS. [2007]DLSC6126

Date	2007-02-14
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO.J4/17/2006
Citation No.	[2007]DLSC6126

ATUGUBA J.S.C. (PRESIDING)

MRS. WOOD J.S.C.

BROBBEY J.S.C.

ANSAH J.S.C.

MRS. ADINYIRA J.S.C.

MR. SOMUAH-ASAMOAH (WITH DR. ERNEST TAYLOR) FOR APPELLANT.

MR. AYITEY ARMAH-TETTEH FOR RESPONDENT.

[2007]DLSC6126
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ABUSALAM ZENABU<o:p></o:p>{PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT/RESPONDENT}<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>MADAM AMA NKRUMAH &amp; 2 ORS.<o:p></o:p>{DEFENDANTS/RESPONDENTS
APPELLANTS}<o:p></o:p>[SUPREME
COURT, ACCRA]<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">

CIVIL
APPEAL NO.J4/17/2006&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: 14TH FEBRUARY
2007<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<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">

MR.
SOMUAH-ASAMOAH (WITH DR. ERNEST TAYLOR) FOR APPELLANT. <o:p></o:p>

MR.
AYITEY ARMAH-TETTEH FOR RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;border:none;
mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;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>ANSAH,
J.S.C. <o:p></o:p>On 11th October 1995, the
plaintiff was travelling on vehicle number ASA 42 A as a fare-paying passenger
when it got involved in an accident at the Afoako Junction on the Obuasi-Kumasi
motor road. The driver was one Isaac Yeboah, 3rd defendant in the suit.&nbsp; The plaintiff pleaded that <o:p></o:p>"6 ... on reaching the Afoako
junction the 3rd defendant saw vehicle No. AHA 4905, which was ahead of him
slow down in order to branch into the Afoako Feeder Road. <o:p></o:p>7 .... the 3rd defendant decided to
overtake it but without taking proper care and attention. <o:p></o:p>8 ... as a result the 3rd defendant
drove so carelessly, and negligently that the said vehicle No. AS 42 A ran into
the rear end of vehicle No. AHA 4905 resulting in the accident." <o:p></o:p>She gave the particulars
of negligence as: <o:p></o:p>i.)&nbsp;&nbsp; (a) Driving without due care and attention. <o:p></o:p>(b)
Failing to maintain the vehicle <o:p></o:p>(c)
Driving at excessive on a dusty road <o:p></o:p>(d)
Driving without due regard for human life <o:p></o:p>(e)
Failing to observe traffic. <o:p></o:p>ii)
Alternatively the plaintiff pleads res ipsa loquitur. <o:p></o:p>The plaintiff pleaded
further that as a result of the accident she was injured and treated at the
Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital at Kumasi for she could not walk without the
aid of a walking stick and even then with a gait in the right leg, lost her
trading business and tomato farm, she could not engage herself in any social
activity.&nbsp; The plaintiff pleaded further
particulars of the injuries she suffered as a result of the accident as: <o:p></o:p>“i.)
Comminuted fracture of left femur; <o:p></o:p>ii.)
Fracture -Dislocation of the head of the right femur; <o:p></o:p>iii.)
Extensive abrasion over the left chin and forehead and left groin; <o:p></o:p>iv.)
Dislocation of second phalanx of the Left Ring Finger. <o:p></o:p>For this she sued for
general damages against the first and second defendants as the transport owners
and the third as their driver. <o:p></o:p>The defendants denied the
substantial parts of the plaintiff's statement of claim and pleaded it was
rather the driver of vehicle number AHA 4905 who was negligent, which
negligence he particularised as follows: <o:p></o:p>a) "(a) Driving without due care
and attention. <o:p></o:p>b) Failure to give sufficient or any
warning before turning into a minor road <o:p></o:p>c) Driving at excessive speed on a
dusty road." <o:p></o:p>Section 15 of the Evidence
Decree, 1975, NRCD 323, provided that: <o:p></o:p>"(2) Unless and until it is
shifted the party claiming that a person did not exercise a requisite degree of
care has the burden of persuasion on that issue." <o:p></o:p>The plaintiff thus assumed
the burden of establishing a requisite degree of belief concerning the
liability of the defendants.&nbsp; In her
effort to discharge this burden </main>