GENERAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD. vs. PETTEH ESSOUN [2017]DLCA5061

Date	2017-10-30
Suit No.	NO: H1/20/2016
Citation No.	[2017]DLCA5061

HONYENUGA J.A. (PRESIDING)

SUURBAAREH J.A.

DAPAAH J.

MR. VICTOR OWUSU FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT

MR. CONSTANTINE K.M. KUDZEDZI FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT

[2017]DLCA5061
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >GENERAL DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY LTD.<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>PETTEH ESSOUN<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/APPELLANT)<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:
&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:
&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi"><o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, 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">

NO:
H1/20/2016&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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: 30TH
OCTOBER, 2017<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>MR. VICTOR OWUSU FOR
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT<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">

MR.
CONSTANTINE K.M. KUDZEDZI FOR PLAINTIFF/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">

HONYENUGA
J.A. (PRESIDING), SUURBAAREH J.A.,DAPAAH J.<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>SUURBAAREH,
J.A.:&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>The facts giving rise to this
appeal are not in dispute.&nbsp; On 29th
October 1975, the Nkisiam Ekisi family of Mpintsim and Sekondi of Ahanta in the
Western Region, per its head, KOBINA KWAINSEN, entered into a lease agreement with
SAND, GRAVEL AND STONE COMPANY LTD., represented by EMMANUEL ACKAH and PAULINA
CRENTSIL, for a period of fifty (50) years.&nbsp;
The lease agreement, which was witnessed by
two elders of the Nkisiam Ekisi family, including the Defendant/ Appellant,
herein simply called hereafter as the appellant, as well as the Secretary of
the family.&nbsp; The lease agreement, which contained
clauses and convenants relating to the obligations and rights of the parties,
included a convenant on the part of the lessee not to assign or sublet or part
with any portion of the demised land without the consent of the lessor.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The facts also show that SAND,
GRAVEL AND STONE COMPANY LTD. on 2nd April, 1985, assigned its
interest in the demised land to the Plaintiff/Respondent, who will simply be
called hereafter as the Respondent.&nbsp;
According to the Respondent, it proceeded to register its interest and
was in uninterrupted occupation and possession, when a few months to the
institution of the action, the appellant entered onto the land and began granting
portions to individuals. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The Respondent, who contended that
after all efforts to stop the appellant in his conduct proved futile despite
being shown the Deed of Assignment, instituted the present action claiming the
following reliefs:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>