EBUSUAPANYIN YAW STEPHENS vs. KWESI APOH [2009]DLCA6988

Date	2009-02-05
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. HI/252/04
Citation No.	[2009]DLCA6988

ANIN YEBOAH JSC (PRESIDING)

BAFFOE-BONNE JSC

ASARE KORANG JA

MR. JOHM MERCER FOR THE DEFENDANT/APPELLANT

MR. K. BODZA ASEMPA FOR PLAINTIFF RESPONDANT.

[2009]DLCA6988
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >EBUSUAPANYIN YAW STEPHENS<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<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:#00B0F0">KWESI APOH<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS/
APPELANTS)<o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>CIVIL APPEAL NO. HI/252/04&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: 5TH FEBRUARY,
2009<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
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0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
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0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">MR. JOHM MERCER FOR THE
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT<o:p></o:p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;line-height:115%;tab-stops:center 257.3pt;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:
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0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">MR. K. BODZA ASEMPA FOR
PLAINTIFF RESPONDANT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>ANIN YEBOAH JSC
(PRESIDING), BAFFOE-BONNE JSC, ASARE KORANG 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="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>ANIN
YEBOAH J S C <o:p></o:p>This is an appeal from the judgment of the
Circuit Court, Sekondi dated the 22/12/2003. The respondent herein who sued as
the Plaintiff commenced the action in a representative capacity for himself and
on behalf of the Amona family of Atwenewoanda. The claim was for declaration of
title to a piece or parcel of land at Beposo, Dunkwa and other ancillary
remedies of damages for trespass and perpetual injunction against the Defendant
who is the appellant to this appeal. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The case for the respondent herein appeared
to be simple. In his statement of claim, he pleaded, inter alia, that the land,
the subject- matter of this appeal was initially a virgin forest which was
cultivated by his predecessor, one Kogya Annan and his brother Kobina Ahinakwa.
After the death of Kogya Annan his sister one Amoa inherited the land. It was
during the inheritance of Amoa that one Kojo Pre, an uncle of the defendant
requested for the land to grow cocoa which request was granted. It was after
the death of defendant’s uncle when the defendant asserted title to the
property in dispute.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>&nbsp;The
roof of title of the plaintiff was traversed by the defendant. The defendant
pleaded that the land was originally acquired by one Kobina Nsabir upon whose
death Kojo Pre succeeded. It was after Kojo Pre’s death that the land devolved
upon him. From the pleadings, it was clear that Kojo Pre was once in possession
of the land. The defendant filed a counterclaim for declaration of title and
the usual ancillary reliefs of damages and perpetual injunction against the
plaintiff. Several; issues were joined for determination at the summons for
directions stage.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>&nbsp;In
the course of the plaintiff’s evidence, however, the plaintiff introduced an
arbitration which took place before the Anto Asafo Company of Anto over the
land. This necessitated an amendment of the existing statement of claim which
the court granted. The plaintiff continued his evidence based on the
arbitration as pleaded in the amended statement of claim filed on 10/02/03. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>As expected, both parties to the suit led
evidence on the title and the arbitration. The trial court on 22/02/2003
entered judgment for the plaintiff for the reliefs endorsed on the writ and
proceeded to dismiss the counterclaim of the defendant.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>&nbsp;Learned Counsel for the appellant who lodged
the appeal filed several grounds of appeal to invite us to reverse the
judgment. In arguing the ground dealing with arbitration, learned counsel for
the appellant has submitted that from the evidence led there was no
arbitration. He pointed out that there was no voluntary submission, names of
the arbitrators were not spelt out in the evidence of the plaintiff and that
there was not award as awards in arbitration proceedings should be clear and
unambiguous. On this issue of arbitration the learned trial judge found against
the appellant and held that there was a valid customary arbitration.<o:p></o:p>