ABEIKU QUANSAH (PETITIONER) vs. BELINDA NYARKO (RESPONDENT) [2013]DLHC7070

Date	2013-05-18
Suit No.	SUIT NO. BDMC 276/2012
Citation No.	[2013]DLHC7070

HER LORDSHIP MERLEY WOOD J

GARY NIMAKO MARFO FOR PETITIONER

AURELIUS AWUKU FOR THE RESPONDENT

[2013]DLHC7070
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ABEIKU QUANSAH<o:p></o:p>(PETITIONER)<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p>BELINDA NYARKO<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;color:#00B0F0"><o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[HIGH COURT, 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">

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>GARY
NIMAKO MARFO FOR PETITIONER <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">

AURELIUS AWUKU FOR THE 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:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

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

</div>During
the course of proceedings on 17th April 2013, Counsel for the Petitioner sought
to tender a power of attorney given to the Petitioner's representative. This
was opposed by the Respondent's counsel on the following grounds: <o:p></o:p>1.
That the power of attorney was not attested to by a witness and sworn before a
commissioner for oaths or notary public as stipulated by the Power of Attorney
Act, 1998 (Act 549), <o:p></o:p>2.
That the name of the notary public is not on the document, <o:p></o:p>3.
That it was not signed by the donor and <o:p></o:p>4.
That it was not sworn as required by the Power of Attorney Act. <o:p></o:p>In
response, counsel for the Petitioner stated that a comparison of the various
processes filed will show that the power of attorney was signed by the
petitioner and witnessed by the notary public.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The court is therefore called upon to
determine whether the power of attorney sought to be tendered is in compliance
with the Power of Attorney Act 1998 (Act 549). <o:p></o:p>Section
1 of Act 549 states thus: <o:p></o:p>(1).
"An instrument creating a power of attorney shall be signed by the donor
of the power, or a person authorised by the donor in the presence of the donor.
<o:p></o:p>(2).
Where the instrument is signed by the donor of the power one witness shall be
present and shall attest the instrument. <o:p></o:p>(3).
Where the instrument is signed by a person authorised by the donor, two
witnesses shall be present and shall attest the instrument. <o:p></o:p>(4)
This section applies in addition to a requirement under an enactment in respect
of witnessing of an instrument creating a power of attorney including the rules
relating to the execution of instruments by bodies corporate and attested by
one witness if the donor himself signs but by two witnesses if signed on behalf
of the donor." <o:p></o:p>The
power of attorney which is sought to be tendered bears a signature purported to
be that of the donor as well as a signature next to the seal of the notary
public Lawrence Nsarko Otoo. <o:p></o:p>Can
it therefore be said that the requirements as stated above have been met? Can
the signature next to the seal be said to be that of the witness? <o:p></o:p>A
comparison of the signature on the processes filed (that is the application for
leave to commence proceedings for divorce within two years and the petition for
divorce) and that of the power of attorney seem to have been made by the same
person (Section 140 Evidence Act.) <o:p></o:p>