ISHAK ALHASSAN vs. EXCELLENT COOLING TECHNOLOGY LIMITED [2017]DLCA4919

Date	2017-04-27
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL: H1/37/2017
Citation No.	[2017]DLCA4919

V. D. OFOE JA (PRESIDING)

A. M. A. DORDZIE (MRS.) JA

M. M. AGYEMANG (MRS.) JA

JOLIN OPOKU FOR PLAINTIFF / RESPONDENT

ISAAC AIDOO FOR DEFENDANT / APPELLANT

[2017]DLCA4919
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ISHAK
ALHASSAN<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF / RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>EXCELLENT COOLING TECHNOLOGY LIMITED<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT
/ APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL (CIVIL 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">

CIVIL APPEAL: H1/37/2017&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;DATE: 27TH APRIL, 2017<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>JOLIN
OPOKU FOR PLAINTIFF / RESPONDENT<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 / APPELLANT<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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V.
D. OFOE JA (PRESIDING), A. M. A. DORDZIE (MRS.) JA , M. M. AGYEMANG (MRS.) JA<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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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</div>AGYEMANG JA:<o:p></o:p>This is an appeal against the ruling of the High
Court (Land Division); Accra delivered on the 29th of February 2016.
<o:p></o:p>The matters that have given rise to the instant
appeal are the following:<o:p></o:p>The plaintiff commenced suit at the court below
seeking inter alia, declaration of title and recovery of possession of a parcel
of land referred to as Plot Number 14, Dzorwulu, Accra and described more
particularly in the writ of summons and a plan attached thereto.<o:p></o:p>Pleadings having closed, and witness statements
having been filed, pretrial proceedings commenced. It was at this stage that
the defendant/appellant (hereafter referred to as the defendant) filed a notice
of motion “for an order to produce and/or disclose the identity of the
plaintiff herein or to provide better and further particulars of the plaintiff
as existing”. The application was supported by an affidavit in which the
defendant’s solicitor deposed that in an earlier suit at the Madina District
Court over the same land in dispute, the plaintiff had sued per an attorney who
was the same as the attorney in the instant suit. The deponent then alleged
that the defendant’s directors were of the belief that the plaintiff (Ishak Al-Hassan)
did not exist, and that the power of attorney was simply a “mere window
dressing”. Learned counsel for the plaintiff raised a preliminary objection against
this, on the ground that the plaintiff had commenced suit and could in law, prosecute
its claim by an attorney. The preliminary objection was upheld and the
application was dismissed as premature. The court notes did not record any
further exchange between the parties or counsel. The plaintiff/respondent (the
plaintiff) has in his submission before us, supplied the much-needed
information to bridge the gap and it is this: that the appellant objected to
the tendering of the plaintiff’s power of attorney on the ground that the
photocopy which was attached to the witness statement did not bear the details
of the Land Valuation Division of the Land’s Commission’s stamp. Thus did the
learned trial judge order that the original power of attorney be produced. At
the next adjourned date, the learned trial judge noted that the original power
of attorney had been produced and that it was duly stamped. Thus did he admit it
into evidence and mark it as exhibit C.<o:p></o:p>Dissatisfied with this ruling of the court, the
defendant has brought the instant appeal on four grounds.<o:p></o:p>We reproduce them in extenso:<o:p></o:p>a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The High Court
judge did not adequately consider the grounds of objection raised by the
counsel for defendant/appellant with respect to the power of attorney;<o:p></o:p>