SERWAH JONAH (FOR HERSELF & ON BEHALF OF HER BROTHER, ALBERT BONSU OWUSUS ANSAH vs. AMA MENSAH BOTWE [2013]DLCA8096

SERWAH JONAH (FOR HERSELF & ON BEHALF OF HER BROTHER, ALBERT BONSU OWUSUS ANSAH... [2013]DLCA8096

Date	2013-05-02
Suit No.	SUIT NO: H1/119/2011
Citation No.	[2013]DLCA8096

KUSI-APPIAH J.A. (PRESIDING)

APALOO J.A.

LOVELACE-JOHNSON (MS.) J.A.

MR. PETER ZWENNES FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT

MR. JAMES AHENKORAH FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT

[2013]DLCA8096
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >SERWAH JONAH
(FOR HERSELF &amp; ON BEHALF OF HER BROTHER, ALBERT BONSU OWUSUS ANSAH<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>AMA MENSAH
BOTWE<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/APPELLANT)<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:&nbsp; H1/119/2011&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; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;DATE: 2ND
MAY, 2013<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>MR.
PETER ZWENNES FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT<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">

MR.
JAMES AHENKORAH FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p>

</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">

KUSI-APPIAH
J.A. (PRESIDING), APALOO J.A., LOVELACE-JOHNSON (MS.) 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">

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

</div>KUSI-APPIAH, J.A.:&nbsp; This is an appeal
from a judgment of the Circuit Court, Accra, dated the 31st day of
October 2002, in which the trial court entered judgment for the
plaintiff/respondent (hereinafter called the Plaintiff) against the
defendant/appellant (hereinafter called the Defendant). <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
basic facts are not in dispute.&nbsp; On or
about 5th day of June, 1998, the plaintiff instituted this action on
her own behalf and on behalf of her brother Albert Bonsu Owusu-Ansah against
the defendant, claiming recovery of possession of the outhouse to House No.
156, New Town Road, Kotobabi, Accra.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
case of the plaintiff as gathered from her pleadings and especially evidence at
the trial is that, she and Albert Bonsu Owusu-Ansah are children by one woman
of the late Albert Owusu-Ansah who died intestate on 17th October,
1963, leaving other children by five other women.&nbsp; One of the other women is the defendant with
whom he had two issues, namely; Joseph Owusu-Ansah and Alberta Owusu-Ansah.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>According
to the plaintiff, the late Albert Owusu-Ansah was succeeded under customary law
by his younger brother, Dominic Owusu-Ansah to whom letters of administration of
the intestate estate were granted on 28th November, 1963.&nbsp; She averred that Dominic Owusu-Ansah died on
11th June, 1973 without having completed administration of the late
Albert Owusu-Ansah’s estate.&nbsp; So on 31st
July, 1978 letters of administration de
bonis non of that estate were granted to Madam Philomena Boatin who had
become the customary successor of the two deceased brothers.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It
is the case of the plaintiff that the late Albert Owusu-Ansah died leaving a
number of houses in Accra and Kumasi including the disputed property, i.e.
House No. 156, situated on the New Road, Kotobabi, Accra, which consists of a
main building and an outhouse.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
plaintiff further averred that by a vesting assent dated 22nd
January, 1977, Madam Philomena Boatin, the administrator of the late Albert
Owusu-Ansah’s estate conveyed the said House No. 156, New Town Road, Kotobabi,
Accra to the plaintiff and her brother Albert Bonsu Owusu-Ansah, forever as
their share of their father’s estate while giving other houses in the estate to
the other children of the late Albert Owusu-Ansah.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It
was also averred that the two children of defendant whom she had with the late
Albert Owusu-Ansah were also given one complete house at Mendskrom in Accra as
their due share of their father’s estate which they have rented out to tenants.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
plaintiff contended that the defendant went to live in the outhouse to House
No. 156, New Town Road, Kotobabi, Accra, after the death of the late Albert
Owusu-Ansah with the leave and licence of Dominic Owusu-Ansah; the younger
brother of Albert.&nbsp; However, the
defendant</main>