AGNES OKAIKOR TAGOE (DECEASED), SUBSTITUTED BY NII OKAI TAGOE vs. TRACOAF ESTATES LIMITED & ORS [2014]DLHC15052

AGNES OKAIKOR TAGOE (DECEASED), SUBSTITUTED BY NII OKAI TAGOE vs. TRACOAF ESTAT... [2014]DLHC15052

Date	2014-06-23
Suit No.	SUIT NO. FTRM/163/1
Citation No.	[2014]DLHC15052

HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE JOHN AJET-NASAM

PAUL OPOKU FOR PLAINTIFF

KWESI COLEMAN FOR DEFENDANTS

[2014]DLHC15052
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >AGNES OKAIKOR TAGOE (DECEASED), SUBSTITUTED BY NII OKAI TAGOE<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>TRACOAF ESTATES LIMITED &amp; ORS<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">

SUIT NO.
FTRM/163/1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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: 23RD&nbsp; JUNE 2014<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL<o:p></o:p>PAUL OPOKU FOR PLAINTIFF<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">

</div>CORAM<o:p></o:p>HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE JOHN AJET-NASAM<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top-width: 1.5pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-left: none; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-right: none; padding: 1pt 0in;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>This case traveled from 2006 and on the 5th
day of March 2009, the plaintiff filed an amendment to the Writ of
Summons.&nbsp; The defendants also, on the 10th
day of November 2011 amended their Statement of Defence and Counter-claim.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The instant case is on land.&nbsp; A declaration of title to land lying and
situate at Kuntunse, Damages, Recovery of possession and injunction.&nbsp; There is a further claim for the Court to
declare a transaction between the 1st defendant as purchaser and
Samuel Augustus K. Quartey and late Leticia Noi as fraud.&nbsp; The 1st defendant counter-claimed
for a declaration of title to the land in dispute in favour of the Quartey
family of Osu.&nbsp; There is a further claim
for injunction restraining the plaintiff and the Tagoe family, from venturing
the disputed land.&nbsp; The authorities are
very clear on issues bordening on the claim for declaration of title to land,
damages, injunction recovery of possession.&nbsp;
Where there is also counterclaim by the defendants.&nbsp; The Courts are also clear on matters on
fraud.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;In Yaa Kwesi Vrs Arhin Davis &amp; Ano [2007 –
2008] SCGLR 580, the Supreme Court held in holding 1 thus:-<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Since the plaintiff-applicant
sued not only for a declaration of title but also damages for trespass and an
order of perpetual injunction, he assumed the onerous burden of proof of title to
the disputed land by the preponderance of the probabilities as required by
Sections 11 (1) and (4) and (12) of the Evidence Decree, 1975 (NRCD) 323, or
else risk the prospect of losing his case”.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;However, where the defendant also files a
counter-claim, he also assumes that onerous burden to prove his case.&nbsp; In Fosuhene
Vrs Atta Wusu [2011] SCGLR 273, the Court said at its holding 3 thus:-<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “..... It was settled that a
counterclaim was in law a separate and independent action tried together with
the original claim of the plaintiff.&nbsp;
Consequently, where in the cause of an action in which there was a
counterclaim, the plaintiff’s claim was struck out, dismissed, discontinued or
stayed, the defendant could proceed to prosecute his counterclaim as it was
independent of the original claim even though a counterclaim had no separate
suit number different from the original suit”.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The arguments in this instant case borders on the
land granted to the 1st defendant by Samuel Augustus Quartey and
Leticia Ladze-Noi.&nbsp; Ebenezer Kwatei
Quartey argues that his paternal great grandmother owns the land in
dispute.&nbsp; However, Emmanuel David Tagoe,
a younger brother of Christiana Korkor Armah clandestinely inserted his name in
the indenture.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The plaintiff also argues that, the property was
jointly acquired by Emmanuel David Tagoe and Christiana Korkor Armah on the 16th
day of September 1897.&nbsp; Exhibit “A” is
the said document.&nbsp; It was made between
Akwele Gwamang of Kwannuru in 1897.&nbsp; The
land was purchased by Emmanuel David Tagoe and Christian Korkor Armah of
Christiansburg.&nbsp; Exhibit “A” stated:-<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “Now this indenture witnesses
that in consideration the sum of Twenty-Five Pounds fifteen Shillings
(£25,15.00) as purchase money to the vendor b</main>