ADU MANTEY & 2 ORS (PLAINTIFFS) vs. OBEDRU FISHING COMPANY LIMITED (DEFENDANT) [2015]DLHC7227

Date	2015-12-17
Suit No.	SUIT NO. OCC/1/08
Citation No.	[2015]DLHC7227

HIS LORDSHIP GEORGE K. KOOMSON (J).

AGYABENG AKRASI FOR PLAINTIFFS

FRANCIS GARIBA APAM FOR OSAFO BUABENG FOR DEFENDANT

[2015]DLHC7227
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ADU MANTEY
&amp; 2 ORS<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFFS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>OBEDRU
FISHING COMPANY LIMITED<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT (COMMERCIAL
DIVISION), 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">

SUIT
NO. OCC/1/08&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;ADU MANTEY
&amp; 2 ORS

(PLAINTIFFS)<o:p></o:p>

vs.<o:p></o:p>

OBEDRU
FISHING COMPANY LIMITED<o:p></o:p>

(DEFENDANT)<o:p></o:p>

[HIGH COURT (COMMERCIAL
DIVISION), ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>

SUIT
NO. OCC/1/08&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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: 17TH DECEMBER, 2015<o:p></o:p>

</div>

COUNSEL: <o:p></o:p>

AGYABENG
AKRASI FOR PLAINTIFFS<o:p></o:p>

FRANCIS
GARIBA APAM FOR OSAFO BUABENG FOR DEFENDANT<o:p></o:p>

</div>

HIS
LORDSHIP GEORGE K. KOOMSON (J).<o:p></o:p>

<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">RULING<o:p></o:p>

</div>

The core issue which I am to adjudicate upon in
this application are as to whether or not the Obuorwe and Company Ltd is a
party whose presence before the court is necessary to ensure that all matters
in dispute are effectively and completely determined and whether the amendment
being sought to correct the name of the defendant is to correct a genuine
mistake to the identity of the defendant.<o:p></o:p>

I have read the affidavits filed for and against
the grant or otherwise of the motion. I have also read the written submissions
filed by the plaintiff/Applicant. Consideration has also been given to the principles
governing the grant of applications for joinder and for amendments with leave
of the court. It is useful however for me to state the provisions in Order 4
rule 5(2) (b) of CI 47 and order 16 rule 5(3) thereof. Order 4 rule 5(2) (b)
provides:<o:p></o:p>

(b) order any person who ought to have been joined as a party or whose
presence before the court is necessary to ensure that all matters in dispute in
the proceedings are effectively and completely determined and adjudicated upon
to be added as a party.’<o:p></o:p>

‘(3) An amendment to correct the name of a party may be allowed under
sub rule (2) not withstanding that it is alleged that the effect of the
amendment will be to substitute a new party if the court is satisfied that the
mistake sought to be corrected was a genuine mistake and was not misleading or
such as to cause any reasonable doubt as to the identity of the person
intending to sue or to be sued.’<o:p></o:p>

The plaintiff applicant has by its supplementary
affidavit paragraphs 5&amp;6 demonstrated that it erroneously stated the name
of the company as Obuorwe Fisheries Ltd instead of Obuorwe &amp; Company Ltd. I
do not think this amendment being sought is misleading and it shall also not
raise any doubt regarding the identity of the company. I have examined exhibits
‘A’ and D attached to the affidavit of the plaintiff/Applicant filed on the 4th
of June, 2015 and I am of the view that the error or mistake can also be traced
to a letter written by the Divestiture Implementation Committee dated June, 20th,
1995 wherein the company was identified as Obuorwe Fishe</main>