ALEX ABOAGYE MOSES ESSIEN AND 257 OTHERS vs. THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND THE OFFICIAL LIQUIDATOR. [2016]DLSC2873

ALEX ABOAGYE MOSES ESSIEN AND 257 OTHERS vs. THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND THE OFFICI... [2016]DLSC2873

Date	2016-02-24
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J4/2/2014
Citation No.	[2016]DLSC2873

ATUGUBA (PRESIDING)

ANSAH JSC

BAFFOE- BONNIE JSC

BENIN JSC

PWAMANG JSC.

K. N. ADUAMAKO ACHEAPONG ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFFS /RESPONDENTS/APPELLANTS.

E. S. GOKA ESQ. FOR THE 2ND DEFENDANT/APPELLANT/ RESPONDENT.

[2016]DLSC2873
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ALEX ABOAGYE MOSES
ESSIEN AND 257 OTHERS<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND
THE OFFICIAL LIQUIDATOR.<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. J4/2/2014&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&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
FEBUARY, 2016<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>K.&nbsp; N.&nbsp; ADUAMAKO ACHEAPONG ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFFS
/RESPONDENTS/APPELLANTS.<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">

E.&nbsp; S.&nbsp; GOKA ESQ. FOR THE 2ND
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;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

ATUGUBA
(PRESIDING), ANSAH JSC, BAFFOE- BONNIE JSC, BENIN JSC, AND PWAMANG 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;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>BENIN, JSC:-
<o:p></o:p>The plaintiffs/respondents/appellants,
hereafter called the plaintiffs who claimed to be ex-employees of the defunct
Black Star Line (BSL), brought an action against the 1st defendant/appellant/respondent,
hereafter called the 1st defendant, and the Divestiture
Implementation Committee, later substituted by the Official Liquidator as the 2nd
defendant/appellant/respondent, hereafter called the 2nd defendant,
claiming compensation for loss of employment arising from the official
liquidation of their employer, the BSL. The endorsement on the writ of summons
reads: ‘The plaintiffs claim against the defendants jointly and severally is
for uniform adequate compensation in the form of ex-gratia award and/or end-of
service benefits, and/or work entitlements’.<o:p></o:p>The case pleaded by the
plaintiffs was that they served in various capacities whilst in the employment
of the BSL. That the BSL having been divested, they as ex-employees were
entitled to be compensated in line with existing practice. However, nothing was
paid to the plaintiffs, notwithstanding all their efforts to be paid their due
entitlements. All appeals to the Government yielded no results, despite
assurances given to them by some state officials.<o:p></o:p>The 2nd defendant
whilst denying that the plaintiffs have any case against it, pleaded that any
such claim was statute-barred.&nbsp; The 2nd
defendant averred that payment of compensation is a matter of law or deducible
from a collective bargaining agreement or contract but the statement of claim has
not provided any basis for the claim and it’s thus unmaintainable.<o:p></o:p>The 1st
defendant averred that the BSL passed a special resolution under section 174 of
the Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179) to wind up the company by way of an official
liquidation in accordance with Part 1, section 2(1) of the Bodies Corporate
(Official Liquidation) Act, 1963 (Act 180). They further averred that the
Government could not be sued as it was just a shareholder of BSL and once
official liquidation was commenced it was only the 2nd defendant
that could be sued. That it was the duty of the liquidator to ensure that the
creditors of the company were paid when the assets of the company had been
realized. That the plaintiffs’ petitions were responded to out of courtesy and these
have no binding effect.<o:p></o:p>Evidence was led at the
hearing. In a terse statement, the trial High Court judge entered what he
described as judgment for the plaintiffs on 10th March 2009. This is
the entire record of the judgment at page 163 of the record of appeal, called
the record:<o:p></o:p>“BY COURT: Judgment was entered in this case
as follows:<o:p></o:p>(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Plaintiffs herein have been found to
be ex-employees of the defunct Black Star Line Limited.<o:p></o:p>(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Plaintiffs herein are to be paid
adequate compensation in the form of ex-gratia award by 2nd
defendant herein i.e. the Official Liquidator of Black Star Line Limited.<o:p></o:p>(c)