WILLIAM SAMUEL BROGYA-BOATENG vs. OKYEAME KWABENA MENSAH AND ANOTHER [2010]DLCA3086

Date	2010-05-28
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. H1/61/2007
Citation No.	[2010]DLCA3086

MARIAMA OWUSU (MISS) J.A. (PRESIDING)

F.G. KORBIEH J.A.

IRENE C. DANQUAH (MS.) J.A.

PEPRAH NYANTAKYI ESQ. FOR DEFENDANTS/RESPONDENTS.

P. ADU-GYAMFI ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT.

[2010]DLCA3086
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >WILLIAM SAMUEL BROGYA-BOATENG<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>OKYEAME KWABENA MENSAH AND ANOTHER<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[COURT OF APPEAL, KUMASI]<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. H1/61/2007&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; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DATE: 28TH
MAY, 2010<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&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; <o:p></o:p>P.
ADU-GYAMFI, ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT. <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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PEPRAH NYANTAKYI ESQ. FOR
DEFENDANTS/RESPONDENTS.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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MARIAMA
OWUSU (MISS) J.A. (PRESIDING), F.G. KORBIEH J.A., IRENE C. DANQUAH (MS.) J.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>MARIAMA OWUSU, J.A.:-&nbsp;&nbsp;
On the 25th of October, 2002, the High Court, Kumasi, gave
Judgment in favour of the Defendant on his Counterclaim and dismissed the
Plaintiff’s claim.&nbsp; The Court held as
follows:-<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “I accordingly, find and hold that, the
customary gifts made by Opanin Kwadwo Kusi [deceased] to his wife, Afua
Gyankuma and her children are valid and irrevocable and binding on the
Plaintiff and his family. <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In conclusion, I hold that the Will
and Last Testament of Opanin Kwadwo Kusi [deceased] [Exhibit 5] is valid for
all intents and purposes.&nbsp; I find and
hold that, the deceased Testator had testamentary capacity to make the devices
in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the said Will, as they were
the self acquired properties.&nbsp;
Accordingly, I enter Judgment for the defendants on the Counterclaim
except relief [3] of same, which is dismissed for lack of evidence.&nbsp; I will award costs of three million cedis
[¢3,000,000.00] to the Defendants against Plaintiff”. &nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dissatisfied
with the decision of the Court, the Plaintiff filed the instant Appeal. The
Grounds of Appeal are as follows: <o:p></o:p>[A] The Judgment is against the
weight of evidence adduced at the trial.<o:p></o:p>[B] The costs of ¢3,000,000.00
awarded is too high and excessive. <o:p></o:p>[c] Additional Grounds of Appeal would
be filed upon receipt of the Record of proceedings.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
relief sought from the Court of Appeal is as follows; <o:p></o:p>“To set aside the Judgment and Costs
of the High Court, Kumasi dated 25/10/02 in favour of the&nbsp; Defendants and give the Appellant Judgment in
respect of the reliefs sought on the Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim.” <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
facts of the case are as follows.&nbsp; The
Plaintiff issued a Writ of Summons against the Defendants claiming the
following reliefs. <o:p></o:p>[A] A declaration that the Cocoa
Farms, secondary forest and grassland situate and lying at places commonly
known and called BOUHO ADAGYA, PROKAM,
KWAYEM, EBUOHO, ALL AT ADAGYA on EFFIDUASE/ASHANTI stool land and the
cottage house at Adagya aforesaid are the family properties of the Plaintiff
herein and that the purported devices of the said properties by the late OPANIN KWADWO KUSI under paragraphs 1, 2,
3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 of his WILL dated 1st January, 1993 are null
and void.<o:p></o:p>[B] A Declaration that the cocoa
farm and the cottage house situate and lying at a place commonly known and
called NTOWOADA, AYENSUKROM, NEAR Bogoso
in the Western Region are family properties of the Plaintiff and that the
purported devices of the said properties by the late OPANIN KWADWO KUSI UNDER
PARAGRAPHS 4 AND 10 of his WILL dated 1st January, 1993 are null and
void. <o:p></o:p>[C] An Order for Accounts. <o:p></o:p>[D] Perpetual Injunction against the
Defendants, their servants, agents from interfering with the said properties. <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On
receipt of the Plaintiff’s Writ of Summons and statement of claim, the
Defendants who are the executors of the Will of the late Opanin Kwadwo Kusi
entered Appearance and filed their Statement of Defence denying Plaintiff’s
Claim and Counterclaimed as follows;<o:p></o:p>[1] A Declaration that, the
properties devised under the Will of Opanin Kwadwo Kusi to the beneficiaries
were the Testator’s self acquired properties. <o:p></o:p>[2] Any other Order or Orders as may
be </main>