BEN MIREKU, GABRIEL TETTEH MIREKU AND KWASI BADU vs. ARCHIBALD OKPON TETTEH, VICTORIA ATSWEI, ELIZABETH AJORKOR AND ADMINISTRATORS OF THE ESTATE OF ADJEI TETTEH [2011]DLSC2544

BEN MIREKU, GABRIEL TETTEH MIREKU AND KWASI BADU vs. ARCHIBALD OKPON TETTEH, VIC... [2011]DLSC2544

Date	2011-02-09
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J4/23/2010
Citation No.	[2011]DLSC2544

SOPHIA AKUFFO (MS) J.S.C (PRESIDING)

SOPHIA ADINYIRA (MRS) J.S.C.

ANIN YEBOAH J.S.C.

BAFFOE-BONNIE J.S.C.

SULEY GBADEGBE J.S.C.

GEORGE AGBEKO FOR THE APPELLANT

HON. J. AYIKOI OTOO FOR THE DEFENDANT /APPELLANTS /RESPONDENT. CORAM:

[2011]DLSC2544
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >BEN MIREKU, GABRIEL TETTEH
MIREKU AND KWASI BADU<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>ARCHIBALD OKPON TETTEH,
VICTORIA ATSWEI, ELIZABETH AJORKOR AND ADMINISTRATORS OF THE ESTATE OF ADJEI
TETTEH<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.
J4/23/2010 &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:<span style="font-size:10.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> 9TH FEBRUARY, 2011<o:p></o:p>

</div><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US">COUNSEL<span style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>GEORGE AGBEKO FOR THE
APPELLANT<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">

HON.
J. AYIKOI OTOO FOR THE DEFENDANT /APPELLANTS /RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p>

</div><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US">CORAM: <o:p></o:p>SOPHIA AKUFFO (MS), J.S.C
(PRESIDING) SOPHIA ADINYIRA (MRS), J.S.C.<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">

ANIN
YEBOAH, J.S.C. BAFFOE-BONNIE, J.S.C. SULEY AND GBADEGBE, J.S.C.<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">

<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;text-align:center;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:
solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>SOPHIA ADINYIRA (MRS), J.S.C:
Delivered the Judgment of the court<o:p></o:p>FACTS<o:p></o:p>The
Plaintiffs/ Respondents/ Appellants hereinafter (Plaintiffs) are the
beneficiaries and successors of the estate of the late Kwaku Mireku a Kwahu
businessman. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Defendants/ Appellants/Respondents
(hereinafter Defendants) are the children of the late Abraham Narh Tetteh, the
original owner of Plot No. D 774/3 Okaishie, Accra, (the subject matter in
dispute,) who died in 1941. In November 1965,the late Kwaku Mireku took a lease
of the said land for a term of 32 years from Adjei Tetteh a son of the original
owner. In accordance with the terms of the said lease agreement, the late Kwaku
Mireku demolished existing structures on the land and constructed a
three-storey building with stores for his own use which he named Mireku House;
and a two storey-house for the use of the lessor. The definite term of the
lease was for 32 years without any renewal clause.<o:p></o:p>By a
letter dated 15 May 1996, the Defendants had their solicitor give notice to the
Plaintiffs of the expiry of the lease on 31 October 1997 and their intention to
recover possession of the Mireku House by 1 November 1997. The Plaintiffs by a
letter dated 26 November 1996 acknowledged receipt of the letter and pleaded
for a new lease of 50 years which the Defendants rejected. <o:p></o:p>Thereafter,
the Plaintiffs on 7 August 1997 instituted an action before the High Court
Accra claiming the following reliefs: <o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
“An order varying the terms
of a lease dated 2 October 1965 between Adjei Tetteh and Kwaku Mireku on grounds
of unconscionability; or<o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
In the alternative, a
declaration that Plaintiffs are statutory tenants<o:p></o:p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Any further order(s) or
relief(s) as the Court may deem fit.”<o:p></o:p>In
their statement of claim the Plaintiffs averred that they have had cordial
relationship with the defendants and also created goodwill for their business
in the area. That in 1984/85 there was a fire outbreak that destroyed </main>