BENJAMIN DANKWAH AND AKWASI PREMPEH vs. THE REPUBLIC [2017]DLCA4446

Date	2017-10-23
Suit No.	SUIT NO: H2/06/2017
Citation No.	[2017]DLCA4446

AYEBI J.A. (PRESIDING)

TORKORNOO (MRS) J. A.

DOMAKYAAREH (MRS) J. A.

COUNSEL FOR APPELLANTS: CHARLES AGBENU

COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT: CECELIA ANIMA PEPPRAH TAKYI (SA)

[2017]DLCA4446
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >BENJAMIN DANKWAH AND AKWASI PREMPEH<o:p></o:p>(APELLANTS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, KUMASI]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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SUIT
NO:&nbsp; H2/06/2017&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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: 23RD OCTOBER, 2017<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>COUNSEL
FOR APPELLANTS: CHARLES AGBENU <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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COUNSEL
FOR RESPONDENT: CECELIA ANIMA PEPPRAH TAKYI (SA)<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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AYEBI
J.A. (PRESIDING), TORKORNOO (MRS) J. A., DOMAKYAAREH (MRS) J. A.<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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JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div><span style="font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;">TORKORNOO (MRS), J.A.<o:p></o:p>The
record of this case covers all of two pages. The notice of appeal adds another
two pages to the record of appeal. The lack of substance in how the case was
conducted is the point that binds both parties to the appeal in their position
that the appeal should be allowed. While Appellant counsel submits on one hand
that the court should set aside the entire conviction on account of it being a
nullity, Respondent counsel argues that failure by the Judge to follow the full
procedure required by statute after taking the plea occasioned substantial miscarriage
of justice. It did not lead to a nullity. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The
Appellant was a driver’s mate. He was charged on two counts of armed robbery
with one Benjamin Dankwah, a driver. The statement and particulars of offence
were that on 23rd February 2007, they agreed with a common purpose
to rob a taxi cab contrary to Section 23(1) and Section 149 of Act 29 of 1960.
The cab belonged to one Kwabena Takyi and the incident occurred at Brofoyedur
in the Ashanti Region.<o:p></o:p>When
they appeared before the court on 2nd March 2007, the record reads
that their charge was read and explained to them. Then their pleas were taken.
They both pleaded ‘guilty with an explanation’. There is no record that the
explanation was received and recorded. The court then proceeded to convict and sentence
them. These are his words.<o:p></o:p>By Court<o:p></o:p>Each Accused persons (sic) are
convicted on their own plea of guilty with an explanation. Accused persons are
therefore sentenced to a term of 24 years IHL on each of the two counts both
sentences are to run concurrently.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It
is this conviction and sentence that have been appealed against. The grounds of
appeal are<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Grounds of appeal<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;">1.