GHANA HOME LOANS LTD (PLAINTIFF) vs. GODFRIED LOVE DJANIE (DEFENDANT) [2016]DLHC7243

Date	2016-02-24
Suit No.	SUIT NO. BFS/130/15
Citation No.	[2016]DLHC7243

HIS LORDSHIP GEORGE K. KOOMSON (J).

YAW ESHUN FOR PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT

ISAAC AIDOO FOR DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT

[2016]DLHC7243
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >GHANA HOME
LOANS LTD<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>GODFRIED
LOVE DJANIE<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. BFS/130/15&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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:
24TH FEBRUARY, 2016<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL: <o:p></o:p>YAW
ESHUN FOR PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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ISAAC
AIDOO FOR DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT <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;
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<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 main issue requiring my adjudication in this
application is as to whether or not the defendant should be allowed to defend
the action.&nbsp; In other words, whether or
not the plaintiff should be granted summary judgment on its reliefs contained
in the writ of summons.<o:p></o:p>A brief summary of the case is that by an agreement
dated 18th August, 2010 between the parties herein, the plaintiff granted
a loan facility of USD45,000.00 to the defendant to be repaid on a monthly
instalment of USD588.74 over a period of 15 years at an agreed interest of
13.65% per annum commencing from the date of disbursement.&nbsp; The parties further agreed that in the event
of a default by the defendant, the rate of interest will be 22.50% per annum.<o:p></o:p>The defendant used a residential property No. Block
7, Plot 7, Hse No. 4, 2nd Drive, Comet Gardens, Berekuso in the
Eastern Region as security for the facility.&nbsp;
The inability of the defendant to satisfy the debt has brought the
parties to court.&nbsp; The plaintiff
therefore claims against the defendant the payment of an amount of USD48,608.71
being outstanding balance on the facility granted to the defendant and interest
on the said amount from 27th February, 2015 to date of final payment
at a rate of 22.50% per annum.&nbsp; In
addition the plaintiff is asking for costs.<o:p></o:p>I have read the application and the affidavits
filed by both parties.&nbsp; I have also
examined the statement of claim and the statement of defence.&nbsp; I have also read the written submissions
filed by both counsel.&nbsp; I have given
thoughtful consideration to the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (C.I.
47) and the principles governing the grant or otherwise of applications of this
nature.&nbsp; It is however, useful for me to
reproduce the relevant section from the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules,
2004, specifically Order 14 rule 1 thereof for the purpose of emphasis.<o:p></o:p>The
section provides:-<o:p></o:p>“where
in an action a defendant has been served with a statement of claim and has
filed appearance, the plaintiff may on notice apply to the court for judgment
against the defendant on the ground that defendant has no defence to a claim
included in the writ or to a particular part of such a claim, or that the
defendant has no defence to such a claim, or part of a claim, except as to the
amount of any damages claimed.”<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Charles J. (as he then was) in the case of Atlanta
Timber Co. Ltd v. Victoria Timber Co. Ltd (1962) 1 GLR 222, stated the purpose
of order 14 in the following words:-<o:p></o:p>“The
purpose of order 14 of the English rules which is in pari material with the
provisions of order 14(1) of our rules is to enable a plaintiff to obtain
summary judgment without a trial, if he can prove his claim clearly.&nbsp; If the defendant is unable to set up a bona fide
defence or raise an issue against the claim which ought to be tried, then the
application should be granted.<o:p></o:p>The Supreme Court in BALLAST NEDAM BV v HORIZON
MARINE CONSTRUCTION LTD [2010] SCGLR 435 echoed the essence and circumstances
under which summary judgment may be granted, when it stated:-<o:p></o:p>“….
Although the procedure for summary judgment under order 14 of the High Court
(Civil Procedure) rules, 2004 (C.I.47), enables the plaintiff to obtain speedy
and summary judgment without a trial even in cases where the defendant to the
action expresses an intention to defend the action, the court may only grant
the application in cases where the defendant is unable to set up a good defence
or raise an issue which ought to be tried…..”<o:p></o:p>Jessel &nbsp;M R,
in Anglo-Italian Bank &nbsp;v . Wells (1878)
38 LT 197 at 199 gave the essence of summary judgment in a more simplistic
manner when he stated that:-<o:p></o:p>