BENJAMIN OPPONG vs. PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL LINE AND OTHERS [2017]DLHC3287

Date	2017-03-22
Suit No.	SUIT NO: CM/TRPC/0015/2016
Citation No.	[2017]DLHC3287

ERIC K. BAFFOUR ESQ. JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT

PLAINTIFF’S ATTORNEY OPPONG KYEKEYKU KOHL PRESENT

MS LANGSON SOWAH FOR DANIEL K. AMERLEY ESQ FOR DEFENDANTS PRESENT

[2017]DLHC3287
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >BENJAMIN OPPONG<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL LINE AND OTHERS<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT
(COMMERCIAL DIVISION), ACCRA]<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:
CM/TRPC/0015/2016&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;22ND MARCH, 2017<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>PLAINTIFF’S ATTORNEY, OPPONG KYEKEYKU KOHL PRESENT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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MS LANGSON SOWAH
FOR DANIEL K. AMERLEY, ESQ FOR DEFENDANTS PRESENT <o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>ERIC K. BAFFOUR, ESQ. JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;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">JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>In Public International law, civil law and canon law one
of the commonest concepts that looms large is ‘pact sunt servande’ that is agreements or contracts are meant to be
kept and not broken. Merchants in private international law, in the middle ages
took this concept and developed same making it a veritable pillar in the
emergence of lex marcatoria of
Europe. As to whether or not the sanctity of agreement has been kept in this case
is an issue that confronts the court.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>By MV Seoul Plaintiff claims to have shipped on board
one 40 container containing 62 pieces all second hand cabin accessories and chassis
accessories. Plaintiff in a writ issued claims against the Defendants jointly
and severally the following reliefs endorsed on the writ:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><span 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;;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US">1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An amount of money of Gh¢280.000 being the present and
total market value for the used trucks imported by Lucky Dee Enterprise in
Kumasi – Ghana, each costing Gh¢70.000.00.<o:p></o:p><span 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;;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US">2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interest on the Gh¢280.000 from 28th March,
2004 up to the date of final judgment. <o:p></o:p><span 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;;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US">3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; General damages for breach of contract.<o:p></o:p><span 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;;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US">4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Any order relief that the honorable court may deem necessary
and just <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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>PLAINTIFF’S CASE<o:p></o:p>The
basis for the demand of the reliefs endorsed on the writ against the defendants
is captured in the statement of claim that accompanied the writ. Plaintiff
avers that on the 9th of February, 2004 the plaintiff trading under
the name Lucky Dee Enterprise imported four trucks from Yokohama and contracted
1st defendant for the shipping of the goods to Takoradi Ghana. That
the 2nd and 3rd defendants are agents of 1st
defendant and instead of the goods being discharged at Takoradi, the defendants
in clear breach of the contract discharged the goods at Tema port whereupon he
called upon the 1st defendant to comply with the terms of the
agreement. He proceeded to confront the director of Ghana Ports and Harbours
Authority as they also demanded a fee of Gh¢21,100.00 as ground rent for the
discharge of the cargo in Tema before the goods would be allowed to leave Tema
for Takoradi. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>