DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY & 6 OTHERS VS. ALEX KOFI KUMAH [2013]DLCA6720

Date	2013-04-18
Suit No.	SUIT NO: H1/144/2012
Citation No.	[2013]DLCA6720

OWUSU M. J.A. (PRESIDING)

DANQUAH I. J.A.

TORKORNOO G. J.A.

MR. FRANK NARTEY FOR PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS

[2013]DLCA6720
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE
MINISTRY &amp; 6 OTHERS<o:p></o:p>VS.<o:p></o:p>ALEX KOFI KUMAH<o:p></o:p>[COURT
OF APPEAL 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">

SUIT NO: H1/144/2012&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;DATE: APRIL 18, 2013.<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<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">

MR.
FRANK NARTEY FOR PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS<o:p></o:p>

<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">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>MARIAMA OWUSU, J.A. <o:p></o:p>Two
main issues crop up for determination in this appeal.&nbsp; They are as follows; <o:p></o:p>1.
Whether the disputed property is family property. <o:p></o:p>2.
Whether or not the transaction entered into by the parties in 2007 is an
outright sale of the disputed property or a rent agreement for ten (10) years. <o:p></o:p>The
trial judge answered the first issue in the affirmative.&nbsp; On the second issue, he came to the conclusion
that the transaction was a rent agreement. <o:p></o:p>Dissatisfied
with the decision of the trial court, the plaintiff/appellant mounted the
instant appeal on the following grounds: <o:p></o:p>i.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The judge erred in holding that the land
the subject matter of the instant dispute, belonged to Defendant's family. <o:p></o:p>ii.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The judgment was against the weight of
evidence. <o:p></o:p>iii.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The trial judge wrongly exercised his
discretion when against the weight of evidence, he refused plaintiff's claim. <o:p></o:p>iv.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Further grounds to be filed on receipt of
the Record of Appeal. <o:p></o:p>The relief sought from the
Court Appeal: <o:p></o:p>That
the Judgment of the High Court, Koforidua dated the 1st day of February 2012 be
reversed and plaintiff's claim granted. <o:p></o:p>At
this stage let me put it on record that the plaintiff/appellant did not file
additional grounds of appeal as indicated in its Notice of Appeal. <o:p></o:p>Also
in this appeal, the plaintiff/appellant would be referred to simply as
appellant and the defendant/respondent as respondent. <o:p></o:p>Before
dealing with the arguments canvassed in support of this appeal, I will give a
brief background to this case. <o:p></o:p>The
appellant through its registered Trustees by its writ of summons claims against
the respondent Specific Performance by executing an indenture transferring
ownership to appellant of its duly acquired parcel of land described in its
writ of summons and cost. <o:p></o:p>In
its statement of claim the appellant averred that in 1993, it entered into a
tenancy agreement with the defendant in respect of the disputed land for ten
years.&nbsp; The appellant further averred
that after the expiration of the agreement, it remained on the land and paid
monthly rent until 2006 when it offered to buy the land.&nbsp; It continued that the respondent initially
refused to sell the land, but later agreed in 2007, upon which it made payments
by installment between March and May 2008.&nbsp;
It is the case of the appellant that, in pursuant of this agreement it
has built a church on the land.&nbsp; The
appellant concluded </main>