NANA KWABENA POKU vs. KWABENA POKU [2017]DLCA5566

Date	2017-01-17
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO: H1/17/2014
Citation No.	[2017]DLCA5566

E. K. AYEBI J.A. (PRESIDING)

G. TORKORNOO (MRS) J.A.

A. M. DOMAKYAAREH (MRS.) J.A.

WILLIAM KUSI COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS

DENNIS KUMAH KWAKYE COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT

[2017]DLCA5566
																																						<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" >NANA KWABENA POKU<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>KWABENA POKU<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS)<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: H1/17/2014&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; DATE:
17th JANUARY, 2017<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>WILLIAM
KUSI, COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENDANTS/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">

DENNIS
KUMAH KWAKYE, COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT. <o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>E.
K. AYEBI J.A. (PRESIDING), G. TORKORNOO (MRS) J.A., A. M. DOMAKYAAREH (MRS.)
J.A.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
border-left:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;border-right:none;
padding:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%;
tab-stops:.5in 93.75pt;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>DOMAKYAAREH
(MRS), J. A.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
In this appeal, the contest between the
parties is for the ownership of a piece of land known as Plot No. 21 Block ‘A’
Duasi. Both contestants acknowledge that the plot of land originally belonged
to one Kwame Anokye and his family. Beyond that, their root of title became
different. The case of the respective parties as presented to the trial court
will demonstrate how.<o:p></o:p>THE
CASE OF THE PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT (HEREINAFTER CALLED THE RESPONDENT).<o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The respondent’s case is that he is the
care taker chief of Niwaa Tuapim Stool of Duasi and he brought the action for
himself and on behalf of his family. His pleadings and testimony and that of
his witness was to the effect that the plot in dispute was originally numbered
14 but renumbered to plot No. 21 Block “A” following a rezoning layout for
Duasi. That the said plot was acquired by his uncle Kwame Anokye (deceased) and
that they have been in actual occupation of the plot for about 300 years
without any interference. That upon the death of Kwame Anokye the subject plot
devolved to him as trustee for the family having succeeded the said Kwame
Anokye. The respondent said in the life time of Kwame Anokye, one Kofi Samanpa,
an uncle of the 1st appellant a brother of the 2nd
appellant, was his close friend. That the late Kofi Samanpa requested Kwame
Anokye to sell the land in dispute to him but Kwame Anokye refused the request.
Subsequently Kofi Samanpa requested to be permitted to pack his cement blocks
on the land which Kwame Anokye acceded to since they were good friends. The
respondent continued that there was a revision of layout of the town in 1964
but that only changed the plot numbers and did not affect the ownership of the
land or the house thereon. According to the respondent, the appellants
destroyed between 500 and 800 out of the 1000 blocks that he molded on the
plot; That he reported the appellants to the Police and they claimed they
bought the disputed plot from respondent’s uncle but they failed to produce any
document to that effect; That the Police advised him to issue a writ which he
did. He claimed the following reliefs per his Writ of Summons filed on
14/09/1995, namely:-<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>(i)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Declaration of title to and possession of
building plot No. 21 Block “A” Duasi<o:p></o:p>(ii)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Damages for trespass<o:p></o:p>(iii)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Perpetual injunction restraining the
defendants, their servants, agents from interfering with the plaintiff’s plot
No. 21 Block “A” Duasi.<o:p></o:p>