J. K. ACKAH vs. FRANCIS EGHAN [2014]DLCA4925

Date	2014-04-09
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL SUIT NO: H1/56/2010
Citation No.	[2014]DLCA4925

C. J. HONYENUGA J.A (PRESIDING)

D. ADJEI J.A

B. F. ACKAH-YENSU J.A

ANTHONY FORSON SNR FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT

JOHN MERCER FOR PLAINITFF/RESPONDENT

[2014]DLCA4925
																																						<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" >J. K. ACKAH<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/ RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>FRANCIS EGHAN<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/
APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, CAPE COAST]<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">

CIVIL
APPEAL SUIT NO: H1/56/2010&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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: 9TH APRIL, 2014<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>ANTHONY
FORSON SNR FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT<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">

JOHN
MERCER FOR PLAINITFF/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">

C.
J. HONYENUGA J.A (PRESIDING), D. ADJEI J.A, B. F. ACKAH-YENSU 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:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>BARBARA
ACKAH-YENSU, JA<o:p></o:p>The Plaintiff/Respondent
initiated an action against the Defendant/Appellant at the High Court Sekondi,
claiming per his amended writ of summons as follows;-<o:p></o:p>“1. Declaration of title to all that
piece and parcels of land <o:p></o:p>known as plots numbers 13 and 14 West
Anaji Planning Scheme, Takoradi.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;2. Damages for trespass.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;
3. Perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants, either by&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;themselves, their servants, agents, privies,
assigns etc <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
from having anything to do with the said land”<o:p></o:p>The Plaintiff/Respondent
claimed that he acquired plot numbers 13 and 14, West Anaji Planning Scheme,
Sector ‘B’, Takoradi by way of a lease from Ebusuapanyin Yaa Kwesi of Basia Aya
Ebiradze Family of Anaji sometime in 1992.&nbsp;
After the purchases, an indenture was prepared and duly registered with
the Lands Commission.&nbsp; There was subsequently
a dispute involving his grantors and other factions of the family at Ntankoful
and as a result Western Regional Security Council (REGSEC) prevailed upon all
those developing the area to stop as a measure to contain the situation.
Plaintiff/Respondent alleged further that Defendant/Appellant entered his land
and started developing same, his protestations notwithstanding.<o:p></o:p>Defendant/Appellant, on
the other hand, contended that the disputed land was part of the whole of the Nkankoful
Abreshiem Ebiradze Family of Nkankoful, which it acquired by way of settlement;
they were the first to have broken the virgin lands of Nkankoful.&nbsp; Defendant/Appellant contended further that
there were various judgments and other judicial decisions that confirmed the ownership
of the Nkankoful Lands in favour of his family.&nbsp;
His contention is that the disputed land did not belong to Basia Aya
Ebiradze family of Anaji and therefore the said family did not have lawful authority
to alienate the disputed land to the Plaintiff/Respondent.&nbsp; Defendant/Appellant thus contended that the lease
executed in favour of Plaintiff/Respondent by the Basia Aya Ebiradze family is null
and void and of no legal effect on the ground that the Plaintiff/ Respondent’s
grantors are not the owners of the disputed land.<o:p></o:p>Defendant/Appellant also alleged
that his arrest by the Police was maliciously masterminded and directed by
Plaintiff/Respondent without any justifiable reason. For all these reasons, Defendant/Appellant
counter claimed as follows;-<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “1. An order of the
court setting aside the Plaintiff’s grantors <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
are not the owners of the disputed plot.<o:p></o:p>2. Damages for causing the arrest of
the defendant without &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>