CHARLES AND OTHERS vs. PRISCILLA MANU AND OTHERS [2012]DLCA3076

Date	2012-11-30
Suit No.	APPEAL NO. H3/95/2010
Citation No.	[2012]DLCA3076

F.G. KORBIEH J.A. (PRESIDING)

IRENE C. DANQUAH (MS) J.A.

I.O. TANKO AMADU J.A.

KWAME ANTWI AFRIYIE FOR DEFENDANTS /APPELLANTS

HON. F.K. BUOR FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENTS.

[2012]DLCA3076
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >CHARLES AND OTHERS<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>PRISCILLA MANU AND OTHERS<o:p></o:p>[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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APPEAL
NO. H3/95/2010&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; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 30TH
NOVEMBER, 2012<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>KWAME ANTWI AFRIYIE FOR
DEFENDANTS /APPELLANTS<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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HON.
F.K. BUOR FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENTS.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>F.G. KORBIEH J.A.
(PRESIDING), IRENE C. DANQUAH (MS) J.A., I.O. TANKO AMADU J.A.<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="text-align:center;line-height:115%;
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solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;I.O. TANKO AMADU, J.A.<o:p></o:p>1.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This appeal is from the judgment
of the Circuit Court Kumasi dated the 17th day of February 2010.<o:p></o:p>&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>2.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It is Important for a better
understanding of this appeal to fully recount the facts of this case which are
that; on 16/7/2009 Plaintiffs/Respondents (hereinafter referred to as
Respondents) commenced action by writ against the Defendants/Appellants
(hereinafter referred to as Appellants) seeking the following reliefs.<o:p></o:p>“(i). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Declaration of title to and recovery of possession of House No.
Plot 31, Block 71 Buokrom Kumasi.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (ii). &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mesne profits”.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>3.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Appellants entered appearance
to the action per their lawyers on 23/7/2009 but failed to deliver a defence.
By motion filed on 17/9/2009 the Respondents applied for an order of
interlocutory judgment for the reliefs endorsed on the writ. On the 25/2/2009,
the trial judge granted the Respondents’ application and adjourned the suit to
19/10/09 for assessment of damages. It is significant to state that the Appellants’
lawyer was not in court while only the 1st Appellant was present.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>4.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On the 14/12/2009 when the
Respondents’ attorney proceeded to testify, the Appellants’ lawyer was not in
court while only the 1st Appellant was present. In the course of the
proceedings counsel for the Appellants appeared and indicated that he intended
to file an application to join the family of the original owner of the subject
matter, the property having been gifted to the family. The trial judge obliged
and adjourned the suit to 8/1/2010 subject to payment of costs of GH¢150.00
which was ordered to be paid before the application was filed on or before
8/1/2010.<o:p></o:p>5.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On 8/1/2010, when the matter came
up both counsel for the parties were present. The record at page 15 does not
disclose why the case did not proceed but the trial judge awarded costs of
GH¢500.00 against the Appellants herein and directed same to be paid before any
process is filed.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>6.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Meanwhile, before the Respondents
had taken any further step in the proceedings, counsel for the Appellants filed
the motion for joinder and sought to add the head and other principal members
of the family of Yaw Manu the deceased husband of Respondents’ mother and
Attorney.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>7. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In the affidavit in support, Akosua
Boahemaa, one of the &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; persons who
sought to be joined had deposed to the following
facts which I shall reproduce in extenso as follows:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>“4. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That
my late brother Yaw Manu died intestate in 2008.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>5. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That
in his life time he acquired Plot No. 12 Block 25 to put up a dwelling house
namely 2 flats but on reaching lentel (sic) level he could not complete one of
the flats due to illment and lack of money he there</main>