ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH, GHANA vs. REV. RANSFORD OBENG, JOSEPH OPOKU, C. K. ACOLATSE, R. K. OWUSU AND C. O. KPODO [2010]DLSC2527

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH, GHANA vs. REV. RANSFORD OBENG, JOSEPH OPOKU, C. K. ACO... [2010]DLSC2527

Date	2010-02-03
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J4/7/2009
Citation No.	[2010]DLSC2527

DR. DATE-BAH JSC (PRESIDING)

ADINYIRA (MRS) JSC

OWUSU (MS) JSC DOTSE JSC

ANIN YEBOAH JSC

DERY & CO. COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS/APPELLANTS

KWAME A. BOAFO FOR THE PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT.

[2010]DLSC2527
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH, GHANA<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>REV. RANSFORD OBENG,
JOSEPH OPOKU, C. K. ACOLATSE, R. K. OWUSU AND C. O. KPODO<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[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. J4/7/2009&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;DATE: 3RD FEBRUARY, 2010<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>DERY &amp; CO. COUNSEL FOR
THE DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS/APPELLANTS.<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">

KWAME
A. BOAFO FOR THE PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT.<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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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;line-height:150%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">DR.
DATE-BAH JSC (PRESIDING), ADINYIRA (MRS) JSC, OWUSU (MS) JSC DOTSE JSC, ANIN
YEBOAH JSC<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;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>DOTSE,
JSC:<o:p></o:p>The fact, that, this case, concerning a reputable
House of God and others also reputed to be very outstanding and charismatic men
of God has come to the litigation altar of the civil Courts and made to travel
all the way from the High Court, through the Court of Appeal, to this Court is
indeed a sad reflection on Christendom.<o:p></o:p>In this respect therefore, we would want to
reflect on the following two quotations as we journey through this exercise to resolve
the final victor in the sight of men. <o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Mathew 16,
24 -25 <o:p></o:p>“Then Jesus said to his disciples, if anyone
desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and
follow me, for whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses
his life for my sake will find it”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
“Let each one remember that he will make progress
in all spiritual things only in so far as he rids himself of self love,
self-will and self interest.<o:p></o:p>St. Ignatius Loyola<o:p></o:p>BRIEF
FACTS OF THE CASE<o:p></o:p>The facts of this case admit of no controversy
whatsoever. The genesis of this case is a letter written by the
defendants/appellants/appellants, hereinafter referred to simply as the
Defendants on the 16 day of November, 1992, in their capacity as the Board of
the Calvary Charismatic Centre, (hereafter referred to as C.C.C.) and addressed
to the plaintiffs/respondents/respondents hereinafter referred to as the
plaintiffs, wherein the plaintiffs were informed that the defendants had
decided to cease affiliation with the Assemblies of God denomination, i.e. the plaintiffs
church with effect from 19th November, 1992.<o:p></o:p>In view of the profound effect which this letter
generated and also its effect on the totality of the entire suit, we deem it fit
and proper to reproduce it in extenso.<o:p></o:p>It must be noted that this letter was tendered in
evidence by the plaintiffs as exhibit BB and is produced on page 967 of volume
one of the record of appeal (ROA).It provides as follows:-<o:p></o:p>“Calvary Charismatic Centre
<o:p></o:p>The Executive Presbytery<o:p></</main>