OP. KOFI NYAME-ANE vs. MAD MARTHA MENSAH [2017]DLCA5300

Date	2017-05-22
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. H1169/2016
Citation No.	[2017]DLCA5300

AYEBI J.A. (PRESIDING)

TORKORNOO (MRS) J. A.

DOMAKYAAREH (MRS) J. A.

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT - MATHEW APPIAH

COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT - PAUL ODURO

[2017]DLCA5300
																																						<div class="restriction-wrapper">
														<div class="container-lg">
															<div class="row">
																<div class="col-md-12 restricted-content">
																	<div class="restricted-content-img-wrapper">
																		<div class="lock-icon bounce-7">
																			<img class=""
																				src="https://www.dennislawgh.com/dl-assets/dl-images/lock-content.png"
																				alt="Subscription based content">
																		</div>
																	</div>
																	 
																		<a href="https://www.dennislawgh.com/login"
																		class="btn btn-primary btn-lg"
																		style="font-family: 'open sans'; text-transform: capitalize; border-radius: 8px"> 
																		Login to Read Full Case </a>
																	 
																	
																</div>
															</div>
														</div>
													</div>
													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >OP. KOFI NYAME-ANE<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>MAD MARTHA MENSAH<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/ RESPONDENT)<o:p></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;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

CIVIL APPEAL NO. H1169/2016&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;DATE: 22ND MAY, 2017<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>COUNSEL FOR
DEFENDANT/APPELLANT - MATHEW APPIAH&nbsp; <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">

COUNSEL
FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT - PAUL ODURO&nbsp;&nbsp; <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">

AYEBI
J.A. (PRESIDING), TORKORNOO (MRS) J. A., DOMAKYAAREH (MRS) J. A.<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <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">

JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>TORKORNOO (MRS), J.A.<o:p></o:p>This appeal has absolutely no merit
because it was filed out of time. All the expenses incurred and the time used
have been much ado about nothing.<o:p></o:p>The 1992 judgement in a suit filed in
1990 and titled Madam Martha Mensah v
Opanin Kofi Nyame-Ane formed the basis for the high court suit on appeal
herein. The 1992 judgment is found on pages 58 to 63 of the Record of Appeal
(ROA). In this judgment, Gyaesayor J (as he then was) had granted inter alia, the
first relief sought by the Plaintiff in both that suit and this current one.
She had prayed for ‘a declaration that by the judgment in the
case of estate of Kwame Bimpeh, Abina Bour vrs Kwame Gyankyi, dated 24/7/45
being Suit No. 17/1945 the late Kwame Bimpeh (deceased) of Ayomso only created
a Trust in respect of his properties for his children and that the late Gyankyi
(deceased) was only a Trustee of the said properties’. In granting that
relief on 3rd April 1992, the learned Judge pointed out that
the suit did not seek a declaration of title to land but the resolution of whether
a Samansiw created a trust over certain properties in favour of the parties to
the suit. For that reason, he was keenly aware that he was not being called
upon to make orders relating to land. <o:p></o:p>However, the learned judge concluded
his judgment by saying ‘There is no doubt
that peace has eluded the family as a result of these properties. I think when
a reasonable portion of the Aboabagya farm and rooms in the House is given to Plaintiff
there will be peace. Gyanki (sic) is a beneficiary of trust so also is the Plaintiff.
I think if they share on equal terms, the ends of justice and fairness will be
met. I have not been called upon to share the property but I wish to add that
if they share on equal terms, peace shall prevail in the family’<o:p></o:p>Clearly the court made no order for
distribution of the Trust property that he had declared as belonging to the
parties. He only expressed an opinion on what would bring peace. <o:p></o:p>Thereafter, the Plaintiff in that suit
and this present one (now deceased), who was the ancestor of the Respondent in
this appeal, commenced her action in the high court in July 1996 for the
following reliefs:<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.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
An
order of the Honourable court compelling the defendant to share (in equal
terms) with the Plaintiff all the properties of the late Gyankyi (deceased) of
Ayomso now in the possession of the defendant herein as per the judgment of the
Circuit Court, Goaso in the case of Martha Mensah vrs Opanin Kofi Nyame-Ane
(being suit No. LS. 3/90) attached hereto.<o:p></o:p>