DICKSON OWUSU ABROKWAH (DEFENDANT/APPELLANT) vs. REV. APOSTLE MATHEW AKUNOR & 2 ORS (PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT) [2013]DLCA7433

DICKSON OWUSU ABROKWAH (DEFENDANT/APPELLANT) vs. REV. APOSTLE MATHEW AKUNOR & 2... [2013]DLCA7433

Date	2013-01-24
Suit No.	SUIT NO. H1/36/2012
Citation No.	[2013]DLCA7433

ASARE-KORANG J. A [PRESIDING]

V. D. OFOE J.A.

K. A. ACQUAYE J. A

RICHMOND NOMBU SAAKA FOR PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS

NANA KWASI OWUSU POKU FOR DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT

[2013]DLCA7433
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >DICKSON OWUSU
ABROKWAH<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN-US" 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;Book Antiqua&quot;;color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p>REV. APOSTLE
MATHEW AKUNOR &amp; 2 ORS<span lang="EN-US" 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;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0"><o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT)<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:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

SUIT
NO. H1/36/2012&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; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;DATE: 24TH JANUARY, 2013<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>RICHMOND
NOMBU SAAKA FOR PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

</div>CORAM: <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

ASARE-KORANG
J. A [PRESIDING], V. D. OFOE J.A., K. A. ACQUAYE J. A<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:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

</div>ACQUAYE, JA<o:p></o:p>This is an appeal against a ruling of an Accra High Court
dated 24th November 2010 by which the trial court refused to dismiss a writ of
summons filed by the plaintiffs/ respondents for lack of capacity.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The facts are that
the first two plaintiffs/respondents filed a writ of summons against the
defendant/appellant claiming:<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;1. A declaration
that by virtue of the judgment of a court dated 23rd April 2010 the defendant
has no capacity to act for and on behalf of the church. <o:p></o:p>2. An order of perpetual injunction restraining the
defendant from holding himself out or acting for the Apostles Revelation
Society as a General Secretary.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;3. A declaration
that defendant has no capacity to commence any meeting for purposes of
appointing a successor to the late primate James Kwaku Amega.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The
plaintiffs/respondents case was that on 7th December 2009 the defendants and
others issued a writ against the plaintiff and others in their personal
capacities. That writ was dismissed by the trial court on the grounds that the
plaintiffs (now defendant) lacked capacity to institute the action on behalf of
the Apostles Revelation Church because they were not the registered trustees.
Notwithstanding the effect of the said ruling the defendant continues to hold
himself out as the General Secretary of the Apostles Revelation Church and has
written letters inviting the Executive Committee members of the church to a
meeting to elect a successor to the late primate of the church. The
plaintiff/respondent complained that if the defendant is not restrained from
acting as the General Secretary of the church he will bring disunity, confusion
and lawlessness leading to the disintegration of the church hence their claims.
<o:p></o:p>After entering appearance but without filing a statement
of defence the defendant/appellant applied to the court to dismiss the writ of
summons on the grounds that, like the plaintiffs in the earlier suit filed on
7th December 2009 and in which a ruling was given on 23rd April 2010, the
instant plaintiffs also do not have capacity and did not sue as the registered
trustees of the Apostle Revelation Church. The trial judge declined to dismiss
the suit on the grounds inter alia that this suit involves some matters to be
adjudicated upon.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;Dissatisfied by
the ruling the defendant filed these two grounds of appeal.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;1. The learned
trial judge failed to consider adequately or at all the case of the
defendant/appellant.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;2. The learned
trial judge erred in law in not dismissing the suit filed by the 1st and 2nd
plaintiffs in their personal capacities. <o:p></o:p>Counsel for the defendant/appellant argue</main>