DN NETWORK LTD (PLAINTIFF) vs. MILLICOM GHANA LTD (DEFENDANT) [2016]DLHC7239

Date	2016-10-11
Suit No.	SUIT NO. BDC/18/14
Citation No.	[2016]DLHC7239

HIS LORDSHIP GEORGE K. KOOMSON (J).

ASHIA BAFFOUR FOR SEAN POKU FOR THE PLAINTIFF

AUGUSTINE KIDISIL FOR THE DEFENDANT

[2016]DLHC7239
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >DN NETWORK
LTD<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>MILLICOM
GHANA LTD<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. BDC/18/14&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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: 11TH
OCTOBER, 2016<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL: <o:p></o:p>ASHIA
BAFFOUR FOR SEAN POKU FOR THE PLAINTIFF<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">

AUGUSTINE
KIDISIL FOR THE DEFENDANT <o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>HIS
LORDSHIP GEORGE K. KOOMSON (J).<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;border-right:none;
padding:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;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>This
case has had a long history of undue delay. Hearing was started somewhere 14th
January, 2015. It has also suffered series of amendments on both sides. The defence
has opened and the defendant has in the witness box its last witness. The
defendant has filed an application for amendment which has the effect of
changing the nature of the defence of the defendant. I have given consideration
to order 16 rule 5(1)(b) of CI 47 and the decision in Yeboah vs Bofour [1971] GLR199. It is my considered opinion that
the amendment if allowed shall in the first place prejudice the case of the
plaintiff as the amendment being sought constitute a surprise if not an
‘ambush’. Again, the amendment will cause undue delay of the case as it will
entail the plaintiff amending its reply and calling further evidence to respond
to the said amended pleadings. As I have stated earlier, the amendment being sought
will entirely change the nature of the case of the defendant. In my view, it
will not be just for the court to allow the defendant to effect such an
amendment even though the court concedes that amendment can be done at any
stage of the matter. In the circumstance, I refuse the application. I award
costs to the Plaintiff/Respondent assessed at GH₵2,000.00. Let the witness of the defendant mount
the witness box on the next adjourned date. Case is adjourned to 26th
October, 2016 at 8:30am<o:p></o:p>

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></main>