THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH OF GHANA AND DROBO TRADITIONAL COUNCIL vs. KWADWO OSEI [2015]DLSC3258

THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD CHURCH OF GHANA AND DROBO TRADITIONAL COUNCIL vs. KWADWO O... [2015]DLSC3258

Date	2015-11-19
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J4/49/2015
Citation No.	[2015]DLSC3258

ATUGUBA JSC (PRESIDING)

ANSAH JSC

DOTSE JSC

YEBOAH JSC

BAMFO JSC

JAMES AHENKORAH ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/APPELLANT.

OBENG MANU JNR. ESQ. (WITH HIM BRIDGET AKATTAH) FOR THE DEFENDANT/APPELLANT/ RESPONDENT.

[2015]DLSC3258
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD
CHURCH OF GHANA AND DROBO TRADITIONAL COUNCIL<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>KWADWO OSEI<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;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

CIVIL APPEAL NO. J4/49/2015&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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: 19TH
NOVEMBER, 2015<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>JAMES
AHENKORAH ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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&nbsp;OBENG MANU JNR. ESQ. (WITH HIM BRIDGET
AKATTAH) FOR THE DEFENDANT/APPELLANT/ 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;
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ATUGUBA JSC (PRESIDING), ANSAH JSC, DOTSE JSC,
YEBOAH JSC, AND BAMFO 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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JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>ATUGUBA, JSC:-<o:p></o:p>The central issue in this appeal is whether it is
the Drobohene or Japekromhene who has allodial title to the land in
dispute.&nbsp; The trial court held that
though the Drobohene might have some residual interest in the disputed land he
failed to prove its nature and extent and therefore dismissed his claim
thereto.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The crux of counsel for the appellants’ submission
is that as allodial title to the land in dispute formerly vested in the Bono or
Gyaman Paramount chief who fell on the French Ivory Coast side of a partition
of the territory of the Bono Kingdom between the French and the English, that
title devolved on the Drobohene who was made Paramount Chief over the English
side of the Bono Kingdom consequent upon the said partition.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It is however clear from the record of proceedings
that the claim of overlordship of Japekrom and other villages after the
partition of the Bono or Gyaman Kingdom is based on British administrative
elevation and not customary elevation by the Bono or Jaman customary overlord
of the contesting parties.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The evidence of DW4, the Bonohene or Gyamanhene at
P.222 of the record of appeal is as follows:<o:p></o:p>“I did not appoint him (Drobohene) as a paramount
chief.&nbsp; He was Adontewaa.&nbsp; At the time of the demarcation of the
boundary between the French and the British, the Drobohene was not an
Omanhene.&nbsp; I testified in a land dispute
between Drobo and Dwenem.&nbsp; I also elected
somebody to testify in another land dispute between Drobo and Japekrom. I had
nothing to do with the status of Drobohene.”(e.s)<o:p></o:p>Thus at p.229 of the record of appeal the Court of
Appeal unanimously per Irene Danquah J.A poignantly stated thus:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>“It must be stressed that it is the Co-Plaintiff’s
case that he derived his allodial interest in the lands he is claiming because
he was made the Omanhene by Gyamanhene after the demarcation of the boundary
between the French and the English colonist.&nbsp;
He claimed further that by that status acquired from Gyamanhene he
automatically became the allodial owner of all lands including Japekrom and
specifically Faago which were under Gyamanhene.&nbsp;
In our view these assertions fell flat considering the evidence of the
Gyamanhene before the Special Committee as well as his evidence in this action.&nbsp; As we stated earlier, the Drobohene did not
challenge the Gyamanhene when he stated in no uncertain terms that he did not
make the Drobohene the Omanhene. Not only that but he confirmed the history
narrated by Japekrom that Japekrom is the original occupant of the area before
Drobo people came to that area.” (e.s)<o:p></o:p>Again Irene Danquah J.A stated clearly at p.228 of
the record of appeal thus:<o:p></o:p>“In the instant case there are categorical
statements made by the two separate committees set up by the Government to
investigate dispute between the Drobo Stool and Japekrom Stool.&nbsp; As can be discerned fr</main>