MRS. VIVIAN AKU BROWN DANQUAH vs. SAMUEL LANQUAYE ODARTEY [2014]DLCA5605

Date	2014-11-20
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL: NO: H1/123/2013
Citation No.	[2014]DLCA5605

KUSI-APPIAH J.A. (PRESIDING)

KORBIEH J.A.

DZAMEFE J.A.

PROSPER NYAHE FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT

MR. KUDJORDJI FOR DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT

[2014]DLCA5605
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" ><h5 align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%">MRS. VIVIAN AKU BROWN
DANQUAH<o:p></o:p></h5>&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;(PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>&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;vs.<o:p></o:p><h5 align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%">SAMUEL
LANQUAYE ODARTEY<o:p></o:p></h5>&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;(DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>&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; [COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<h4 style="margin-left:0in;text-align:justify;text-indent:0in;line-height:115%;
border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;
mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">CIVIL APPEAL: NO:
H1/123/2013&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;20TH
NOVEMBER, 2014 <o:p></o:p></h4>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>PROSPER NYAHE
FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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MR. KUDJORDJI
FOR DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>KUSI-APPIAH J.A. (PRESIDING), KORBIEH J.A., DZAMEFE J.A.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<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>KUSI-APPIAH,
J.A.: By the amended writ of summons that commenced the
action, the plaintiff, as Head of the Adutso family of Osu, sought against the
defendant as Head of Odartey Sro
family of Osu a declaration of title to a parcel of land said to be located at
Abokobi in the Greater Accra containing over 500 acres. She also sought an
order of perpetual injunction against the defendants and their agents, assigns
or privies in respect of the said parcel of land. Again, the plaintiff sought
against the defendants a declaration that the statutory declaration made by the
defendant’s family covering plaintiff’s family land and registered as No.
3303/74 was wrongful, null and void and of no legal effect. Additionally, the
plaintiff sought for recovery of possession and general damages for trespass against
the defendant. The plaintiff also prayed for an order directing the Lands
Commission and Land Title Registry to expunge the said plotting and registration
(of plaintiff’s family land the subject matter of this suit in the name of
defendant’s family) from its records.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>From the amended statement of claim
that accompanied the amended writ of summons, the basis of the reliefs claimed
by the plaintiff is that her family, the Adutso family of Osu, are the
beneficial and lawful owners of the disputed land and that while a statutory declaration
affecting a portion of the said land had been wrongfully registered with the
Lands Commission in the name of the defendant’s family (Odartey Sro family), a
lease executed by the defendant’s family and affecting a portion of the same
land had also been wrongfully registered in the records of the Lands
Commission.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The plaintiff alleged in the
statement of claim that her family acquired the land through settlement by her
forefathers, and that for over 150 years (since 1854), the family had exercised
various acts of possession and ownership over the land.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>For their part, the defendant as
Head of Odartey Sro family
denied that the plaintiff was entitled to her claims. Just like the plaintiff,
the defendant alleged that his family acquired the disputed land by settlement
over 200 year ago and that the family had exercised various acts of possession
and ownership over the land. The defendant contended in his statement of
defence and counterclaim that the plaintiff’s family had no proprietary
interest in any portion of the disputed land and that the grant of portion of
the subject property in a form of lease to individuals and institutions
complained about by the plaintiff was within the rights of the Odartey Sro family as beneficial owners of the
disputed land.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The defendant also made allegations
of trespass against the plaintiff in respect of the disputed land and
counterclaimed for declaration of title, recovery of possession, damages for trespass
and perpetual injunction in respect of the land.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>After hearing evidence from the
parties, the learned trial judge dismissed the plaintiff’s claim and gave
judgment for the defendant on his counterclaim. Dissatisfied with the decision
of the trial court, the plaintiff challenged the judgment on the grounds that:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>“1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The learned trial judge erred in law when
he held that the exact identity of the land being claimed by the plaintiff was
not positively proved.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>