JULIANA RICHARDS vs. JIMMY NKRUMAH [2014]DLSC2916

Date	2014-07-17
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO.J4/9/2014
Citation No.	[2014]DLSC2916

J. ANSAH JSC (PRESIDING)

R. OWUSU (MS) JSC

J. DOTSE JSC

N.S. GBADEGBE JSC

J. B. AKAMBA JSC

VIVIAN MFODWAA GYAN ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/ RESPONDENT.

MARIAM AGYEMAN GYASI JAWHARY ESQ. (WITH HER SOLOMON OPPONG

TWUMASI) FOR THE DEFENDANT /APPELLANT/ APPELLANT.

[2014]DLSC2916
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >JULIANA RICHARDS<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>JIMMY NKRUMAH<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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CIVIL
APPEAL
NO.J4/9/2014&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;DATE: 17TH
JULY, 2014<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>VIVIAN MFODWAA GYAN ESQ.
FOR THE PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/ RESPONDENT.<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">

MARIAM
AGYEMAN GYASI JAWHARY ESQ. (WITH HER SOLOMON OPPONG TWUMASI) FOR THE DEFENDANT
/APPELLANT/ APPELLANT.<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;
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J. ANSAH JSC (PRESIDING), R. OWUSU (MS) JSC,
J.&nbsp; DOTSE JSC, N.S. GBADEGBE JSC, J.&nbsp; B.&nbsp;
AKAMBA JSC<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;
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JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>AKAMBA, J.S.C: <o:p></o:p>The
issue in controversy between the parties in this appeal falls within the narrow
compass of what the true intention of the deceased husband and father
respectively of the appellant and respondent was when he acquired Property Plot
No 14, Old Bekwai Road Kumasi the subject of the present dispute. <o:p></o:p>BRIEF FACTS<o:p></o:p>The
deceased, Francis Nkrumah, in 1987, purchased H/No 14, Old Bekwai Road, Kumasi
as trustee for and on behalf of his infant children Gimmy Nkrumah aged twelve
(12), Kofi Nkrumah aged five (5) and Nana Serwaa aged two (2). The transaction
was evidenced by an indenture tendered at the trial. (See page 125 to 128 of
ROA). The deceased eventually constructed a twenty-two room Hotel on a portion
of the property. Thirteen years after the transaction, precisely in the year
2000, the deceased married Juliana Richards, the Defendant/Appellant/Appellant
(herein after simply the Appellant).&nbsp;
Francis Nkrumah died on 2nd January 2005 and in the listing
of his estate for letters of administration, the Appellant sought to include
the aforementioned house as part of the estate. The Appellant contended that
her late husband by his conduct and dealings with the property rebutted any
presumption of advancement. Furthermore the premises served not only as the
matrimonial home, it housed a night club and restaurant business to which significant
developments were made in order to operate a hotel thereon. Appellant also
claimed to have lived on the property since 1995 and contributed to the
development of the hotel. The Respondent as Plaintiff issued a writ at the High
Court Kumasi which court after trial entered judgment in his favour.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>RELIEFS SOUGHT AT THE HIGH COURT &nbsp;<o:p></o:p>The
respondent in his writ at the High Court Kumasi sought against the appellant the
following: <o:p></o:p>“1. Declaration
that ownership to H/No 14 Old Bekwai Road Kumasi is vested in the plaintiff and
Kofi Nkrumah by virtue of Advancement made to them by their late father Francis
Nkrumah per a lease dated 11th June 1987.<o:p></o:p>2. Recovery of
possession.<o:p></o:p>3. Damages for
trespass.<o:p></o:p>4. An order for
perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, her agents, servants and any
person claiming title through her from interfering with the disputed Property.”<o:p></o:p>The appellant filed
a statement of defence and counterclaim seeking:<o:p></o:p>“1. A declaration
that the property known as H/No 14 Old Bekwai Road Kumasi belongs to Francis
Nkrumah (deceased) and forms part of his intestate estate.<o:p></o:p>2. An order for
injunction restraining the Plaintiff either by himself or through his agents,
representatives, assigns, privies, workmen and those claiming through, under or
by him in anyway interfering with the property which must be distributed and/or
shared in accordance with PNDCL 111 being part of the intestate estate of
Francis Nkrumah (deceased).<o:p></o:p>3 Such further
order(s) as the Honourable Court may deem fit.”<o:p></o:p>