HON. P. C. APPIAH-OFORI vs. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL [2010]DLSC2947

Date	2010-06-02
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J1/4/2007
Citation No.	[2010]DLSC2947

WOOD (MRS) CJ (PRESIDING)

ATUGUBA JSC

ANSAH JSC

OWUSU (MS) JSC

DOTSE JSC

YEBOAH JSC

BAFFOE-BONNIE JSC

GBADEGBE JSC

AKOTO-BAMFO (MRS) JSC

FRANK BOAKYE AGYEN BOAKYE AGYEN CHAMBERS FOR THE PLAINTIFF.

CECIL ADADEVOH SENIOR STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENDANT.

<p class="mb-5" id="contentDlCitation"  hidden>[2010]DLSC2947</p>
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: center; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#00B0F0">HON. P. C. APPIAH-OFORI</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: center; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#00B0F0">vs.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: center; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#00B0F0">THE ATTORNEY GENERAL</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: center; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1.5pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">CIVIL APPEAL NO.
J1/4/2007&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; DATE:&nbsp;2<sup>ND&nbsp;</sup>JUNE, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p>

</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">COUNSEL</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">:&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">FRANK BOAKYE AGYEN, BOAKYE AGYEN CHAMBERS FOR THE PLAINTIFF.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1.5pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">CECIL ADADEVOH SENIOR STATE ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENDANT.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">CORAM:</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">WOOD (MRS) CJ (PRESIDING), ATUGUBA JSC, ANSAH JSC, OWUSU (MS) JSC,
DOTSE JSC, YEBOAH JSC, BAFFOE-BONNIE JSC, GBADEGBE JSC, AKOTO-BAMFO (MRS)
JSC&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="border-top: 1.5pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-bottom: 1.5pt solid windowtext; border-right: none; padding: 1pt 0in; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: center; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; border: none; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">WOOD (MRS), CJ:-</span></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">Rarely do we find parties in litigation in agreement over issues
of fact, let alone issues of law. The norm is for each side to dig their heels
and refuse to move away from their respective entrenched positions. Not
surprisingly, an open admission that an opponent is entitled to a relief sought
is hardly heard of. For which reason, none of those useful procedures provided
under the rules of court, for the expeditious but altogether just resolution of
disputes, hardly work in our jurisdiction. Thus, applications for summary
judgment or judgment on admissions, motions to have claims or defences struck
out on grounds of non disclosure of a reasonable claim or a defence-procedures
for achieving judicial economy-are usually met with stiff opposition. Indeed,
getting parties who are before the superior courts to the Alternative Dispute
Resolution (ADR) table may be likened to the biblical proverbial expression of
having a camel pass through a needle’s eye. These largely account for the cumbersome
legal procedures and tortuous court room trials, which culminate in the
frustratingly long delays faced by court users.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">Constitutional litigation instituted under articles 2 (1) and
130(1) of the 1992 Constitution is quite common in our jurisdiction. But,
understandably, the framers of&nbsp; the Supreme Court Rules, C. I. 16, did
envisage that some actions brought under our original jurisdiction, might
nevertheless be uncontested, hence the rule 48 of the C. I. 16, which provides:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">“(1) A defendant upon whom a writ and statement of the plaintiff’s
case are served shall, if he wishes to contest the case….”</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 7.5pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 20.25pt; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif;">Uncharacteristically, the defendant in this instant case has
presented us with a refreshing change. The defendant, the Honourable
Attorney-General, represented by Mr. Cecil Adadevoh, Senior State Attorney, has
adopted the approach which in judicial proceedings, we w</main>