GHANA HOME LOANS LTD vs. VIVIAN ADJEI [2017]DLHC3687

Date	2017-02-16
Suit No.	SUIT NO. BFS/374/11
Citation No.	[2017]DLHC3687

GEORGE K. KOOMSON JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT

YAW ESHUN FOR PLAINTIFF RICHMOND

N. SACKAH FOR DEFENDANT

[2017]DLHC3687
																																						<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" >GHANA HOME LOANS LTD<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>VIVIAN ADJEI<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT (COMMERCIAL
DIVISION), ACCRA]<o:p></o:p>SUIT NO. BFS/374/11&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 16TH FEBRUARY, 2017<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:31.0pt 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt;mso-border-shadow:yes">

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>YAW ESHUN FOR PLAINTIFF RICHMOND <o:p></o:p>N. SACKAH FOR DEFENDANT <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt">

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>GEORGE K. KOOMSON JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt">

</div>JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in 31.0pt 1.0pt 31.0pt">

</div>The Plaintiff entered into a written contract with the defendant
dated 8th February, 2011, in which the plaintiff approved a facility
in the sum of USD 67,500.00 to the defendant at the request of the defendant.
The rate of interest agreed to by the parties is 12% per annum. The facility
was to be amortized over the period of the facility commencing from the date of
disbursement. It is alleged that the parties further agreed that in the event
of a default, the rate of interest applicable to the facility will be 18.50%
per annum. The inability of the defendant to service the said facility as
agreed to in the contract of 8th February, 2011 has brought the
parties to court with the plaintiff asking for the following reliefs: <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes">1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
That the defendant pays the
plaintiff the amount of USD 66,526.75 being the outstanding balance on the loan
facility granted to the defendant. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes">2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Interest on the said amount
from 19th October, 2011to date of final payment at a rate of 18.50%
per annum. <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;
mso-pagination:none;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;border:none;mso-padding-alt:31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;
mso-border-shadow:yes">3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Costs occasioned by this
action. <o:p></o:p>It is noted from the onset that the defendant through her counsel
participated in the trial. At the close of the plaintiff’s case, the defendant
was ordered to open her defence on the 15th June, 2016. Since then,
the matter suffered series of adjournments, all at the instance of the defence.
The court obliged the defence on all these occasions due to the fact that
counsel for the defendant made the court to believe that the defendant, who is
resident in the United Kingdom (UK) had undergone some surgery and could
therefore not travel to testify. On the 14th December, 2016, defence
counsel gave a firm assurance to the court that the defendant would be
testifying at the next adjourned date. Defence counsel therefore prayed for an
adjournment, which was obliged, to 18th January, 2017. The court in
accepting the prayer of defence counsel, noted that in the event the defendant
fails to testify on the 18th January, 2017, it shall be deemed that
the defence has abandoned their right to state their case. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On the 18th January, 2017, the defendant was absent
from court. Counsel for defendant informed the court that the defendant was
unable to attend court to testify. The defendant also did not call witnesses.
It was accordingly deemed that the defendant did not intend to testify or call
witnesses in proof of her case. It is significant to note that the defendant
was on the 18th January, 2017 represented in court by one Solomon
Tetteh. <o:p></o:p>