OBAAPANYIN AKOSUA NYANTAKYIWAA AND MR. KWAKU ABRAHAM vs. ISAAC DARKWA [2013]DLCA5279

Date	2013-04-18
Suit No.	SUIT NO: H1/204/2012
Citation No.	[2013]DLCA5279

OWUSU M. J.A. (PRESIDING)

ACQUAYE K. J.A.

DORDZIE M. J.A.

MR. JOHN K. A. KLU FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT

MR. GUSTAV ADDINGTON FOR DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT

[2013]DLCA5279
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >OBAAPANYIN AKOSUA NYANTAKYIWAA AND MR. KWAKU ABRAHAM<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>ISAAC DARKWA<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT)<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: H1/204/2012&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;APRIL 18, 2013.<o:p></o:p>

</div><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
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&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Arial Unicode MS&quot;">COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>MR.
JOHN K. A. KLU 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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</div>CORAM: &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>OWUSU
M. J.A. (PRESIDING), ACQUAYE K. J.A., DORDZIE M. 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="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>MARIAMA
OWUSU, J.A:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On
30-1-2012, the High Court, Koforidua, gave judgment against the plaintiff. The
Court held among other things that,<o:p></o:p>“From
the above, and for the reasons given, judgment is entered against the plaintiff
in respect of all the reliefs endorsed on her writ.<o:p></o:p>The
defendant in this case did not counterclaim for a declaration of title,
recovery of possession and an order of perpetual injunction amongst others as
was the case in the previous litigation. However, with the resolution of all
the issues and additional issues in his favour, he is entitled to being
declared owner of the disputed land and the court so declares. The effect of
this judgment means that the judgment in the previous litigation declaring
title in his favour upon his counter claim stands unaffected. Also see the case
of Hanna Assi v. Gihoc Refrigeration &amp; Household Products Ltd. (No.2)
[2007-2008] 1GLR 16 which held that where on the evidence a defendant is clearly
entitled to a remedy but filed no counterclaim, the court in order to do
substantial justice amongst the parties may grant the relief not asked for.<o:p></o:p>On
the cost to be awarded, having regard to unnecessarily expenses that the
plaintiff has put the defendant through to defend his claim to the land a
second time, and contumelious conduct of the plaintiff in denying any knowledge
of the previous litigation the defendant shall be entitled to substantial cost.
Accordingly cost of GH¢2,500.00 is awarded against the plaintiff”.<o:p></o:p>Dissatisfied
with the decision of the court, the plaintiff appealed to this court on the
following grounds;<o:p></o:p>[i] &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ruling was against the weight of the
evidence on the record.<o:p></o:p>[ii] &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The cost awarded against the plaintiff is
harsh and excessive and without any basis in law.<o:p></o:p>[iii] &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other grounds of appeal will be filed upon
receipt of the record of proceedings.<o:p></o:p>The
relief sought from this Court:<o:p></o:p>That
the judgment entered in favour of defendant be set aside and judgment be given
in favour of Plaintiff.<o:p></o:p>The
background to this appeal is as follows;<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff by her writ of summons claims against the defendant the following
reliefs:<o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Declaration of title to all that piece of
land described in paragraph 4 of the statement of claim.<o:p></o:p>