DAVID DONKOR vs. MADAM AFUA ANTWIWAA AND OTHERS [2012]DLCA3117

Date	2012-05-31
Suit No.	SUIT NO. H1/24/2011.
Citation No.	[2012]DLCA3117

MARIAMA OWUSU J.A. (PRESIDING)

F.G. KORBIEH J.A.

I.C. DANQUAH J.A.

MR YAW BOAFO FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT

MR JAMES MARSHAL BELEIB FOR DEFENDANTS/ RESPONDENTS

[2012]DLCA3117
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >DAVID DONKOR<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>MADAM AFUA ANTWIWAA 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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SUIT
NO. H1/24/2011.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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; 31ST MAY, 2012.<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>MR YAW BOAFO FOR 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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MR JAMES MARSHAL BELEIB FOR
DEFENDANTS/ RESPONDENTS<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>MARIAMA OWUSU J.A. (PRESIDING), F.G.
KORBIEH J.A., I.C. DANQUAH 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>MARIAMA
OWUSU,&nbsp; J.A.:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>This is an appeal against the
decision of the Circuit Court, Bekwai/Ashanti, dismissing the plaintiff’s claim
as not proved.&nbsp;&nbsp; Judgment was then
entered in favour of the defendants on their counterclaim.&nbsp;&nbsp; Dissatisfied with the decision of the court,
the plaintiff appealed to this court.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The Grounds of appeal are:<o:p></o:p><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="a">
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo1">&nbsp; The judgment is against the weight of
 evidence adduced at trial.<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo1">The learned Judge erred when he
 ruled that the plaintiff has no capacity to commence and maintain the
 action.<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo1">The learned Judge erred when he
 ruled that a valid gift of the land in dispute had been made in favour of
 the defendants.<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;mso-list:l6 level1 lfo1">Additional grounds of appeal to
 be filed on receipt of the record of proceedings.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>The Relief being sought:<o:p></o:p>The
judgment of the Honourable Court dated 17-6-2010 be set aside.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The facts of the case are as
follows:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The plaintiff issued a writ of
summons for himself and on behalf of his family members of New Akrofuom
claiming:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><ol style="margin-top:0in" start="1" type="a">
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo2">&nbsp; A declaration of Title and Ownership to
 all that piece or parcel of a scrub land situated, lying and being at New
 Akrofuom at a place commonly known and called “Akwasiampeso” on Fomena
 Stool land which defendants have trespassed unto claiming same as the
 property of the late Op. Kwasi Dei.<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo2">Recovery of Possession and
 ownership of the land.<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo2">General Damages for trespass.<o:p></o:p></li>
 <li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;mso-list:l5 level1 lfo2">Perpetual Injunction.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>In the statement of claim which
accompanied his writ of summons, the plaintiff avers that, his late
grandparents, Nana Abuaa and Opanin Yaw Barima acquired the Akwaisampeso land
in its virgin state from Opanin Apotoe, the then Gyaasehene of Fomena who is the
Overlord of the said land.&nbsp;&nbsp; Plaintiff
avers further that, Nana Abuaa and Opanin Yaw Barima cultivated cocoa and
coffee on the land and enjoyed same till Nana Abuaa died and Opanin Yaw Barima
became blind.&nbsp;&nbsp; It is the case of the
plaintiff that, when Nana Yaw Barima became blind, he entrusted the said land
in to the care of Akwasi Dei his Nephew who took possession of the said land
till Opanin Yaw Barima died.&nbsp;&nbsp; Upon the
death of Opanin Yaw Barima, the land devolved onto Opanin Akwasi Dei who
enjoyed the proceeds of the land for about sixty years till he died in the year
2003 when the land devolved onto Kwadwo Donkor, the brother of Akwasi Dei who
had enjoyed the proceeds to date.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Plaintiff avers further that, during
his life time, Akwasi Dei curved portions of the land to other tenants to
cultivated on abunus basis.&nbsp;&nbsp; The
remaining portion of the land has been taken over by Kwadwo Donko and his
siblings as well as himself and they have cultivated their respective farms on
the said land.&nbsp;&nbsp; The plaintiff concluded
that, after the death of Akwasi Dei, the defendant have arrogated all the
family land at Akwasiampeso to themselves saying same was gifted to them by
Akwasi Dei hence this action.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On receipt of plaintiff’s writ of
summons, the defendants reacted by filing their statement of defence.&nbsp;&nbsp; In particular, the defendants aver that, it
was the late Akwasi Dei who cultivated the disputed land in its virgin state
and reduced same into cocoa and coffee farms respectively.&nbsp;&nbsp; The defendants aver further that because
Opanin Yaw Barima was blind, Opanin Kwesi Dei gifted portion of his land to the
wife of Opanin Yaw Barima to live on.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>