NANA AMPOFO KYEI BARFOUR vs. JUSTMOH CONTRUCTION CO. LTD , DESPITE COMPANY LIMITED ,YAA SERWAA EGGS SELLERS ASSOCIATION LTD. AND GHANA RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY [2017]DLSC2602

NANA AMPOFO KYEI BARFOUR vs. JUSTMOH CONTRUCTION CO. LTD , DESPITE COMPANY LIMIT... [2017]DLSC2602

Date	2017-06-14
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J4/51/2016
Citation No.	[2017]DLSC2602

AKUFFO (MS) JSC (PRESIDING)

ANSAH JSC

ADINYIRA (MRS) JSC

DOTSE JSC

YEBOAH JSC

KWASI AFRIFA FOR THE PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/APPELLANT

NANA ATO DADZIE FOR THE 5TH DEFENDANT/APPELANT/RESPONDENT

[2017]DLSC2602
																																						<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 AMPOFO KYEI BARFOUR<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>JUSTMOH CONTRUCTION CO. LTD , DESPITE
COMPANY LIMITED ,YAA SERWAA &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;EGGS SELLERS ASSOCIATION LTD.
AND GHANA RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[SUPREME COURT, 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">

CIVIL APPEAL NO. J4/51/2016&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;
DATE: 14TH
JUNE, 2017<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>KWASI AFRIFA FOR THE
PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/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">

NANA
ATO DADZIE FOR THE 5TH DEFENDANT/APPELANT/RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM: <o:p></o:p>AKUFFO (MS), JSC (PRESIDING) ANSAH, JSC ADINYIRA
(MRS), JSC DOTSE, JSC AND YEBOAH, JSC&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-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="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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>ADINYIRA (MRS), JSC:-<o:p></o:p>For
purposes of clarity, it is essential to set out in chronological detail, the
facts and dates of events, as the bone of contention in this appeal are, the
due compliance with time set down by the rules of court and the principle of
the audi alteram partem rule.<o:p></o:p>FACTS
AND PROCEDURE:<o:p></o:p>On
17/3/2013, the occupant of the Asem stool, Nana Ampofo Kyei Baffour, the
Plaintiff/Respondent/Appellant (the Plaintiff) instituted an action, per his
lawful attorney, at the Fast Track High Court, Kumasi, against the 1st
to 4th Defendants for a declaration that the parcel of land&nbsp; being occupied by the Defendants, forms part
of Asem Stool lands. In time, the 2nd Defendant herein, Despite
Company, applied for its grantor, the Ghana Railway Development Authority to be
joined to the action. <o:p></o:p>The
order for joinder made on the 13/5/2013 by the trial judge was as follows: <o:p></o:p>“Application
for joinder of the Ghana Railway Authority as 5th Defendant is
hereby granted. The Ghana Railway Authority is hereby given 14 days to file all
processes they need to file. The Plaintiff is to amend the title of the suit
accordingly. Case is to take its normal course. Costs of GHS200 is awarded to
the Plaintiff to enable him to file the amended process.”<o:p></o:p>The
Plaintiff filed the amended writ of summons and statement of claim on 22/5/
2013 and these were served on the Ghana
Railway Authority, the 5th Defendant/Appellant/Respondent (5th
Defendant) on 25/6/2013.<o:p></o:p>On
14/6/2013, an appearance was entered on behalf of the 5th Defendant.
<o:p></o:p>On
16/7/2013, the Plaintiff filed a motion for judgment in default of defence
against the 5th Defendant with a return date of25/7/2013. The motion
was heard and granted on 25th November, 2013 and the matter
adjourned to 11/12/2013 for assessment of damages. <o:p></o:p>On
11/12/2013, the date fixed for assessment of damages, the 5th
Defendant, represented by counsel, informed the court that a statement of
defence was filed on 2/8/2013 and applied orally that the default judgment be
set aside. Counsel for the Plaintiff did not oppose the application and the
court granted the application and mulcted the 5th Defendant in costs
of GHC 600. <o:p></o:p>On
13/12/2013, the plaintiff filed a motion to review the order setting aside the
default judgment of 25/05/2013 on the grounds that the representation by
Counsel for 5th Defendant that the statement of defence was filed on
2nd August, 2013 was false. On 18/12/2013, the court reviewed the order
of 11/12/13 and restored the default judgment.<o:p></o:p>On
23/ 12/ 2013, the 5th Defendant filed a motion for an order for
review of the ruling of 18/12/2013 and to restore the order of 11/12/2013. The
application was supported by copies of the court receipts indicating that the
statement of defence was indeed filed on 2nd August, 2013.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;In the affidavit in opposition filed on
16/01/2014, the Plaintiff stated in paragraph 5 thereof that it was in December
2013 that the statement of defence was served on him through his solicitor. He
stated further that the statement of defence was not filed within the 14 days
ordered by the court when the order for joinder was granted on 13/05/2013. He
therefore submitted that the statement of defence which was filed out of time
without leave of the court was a nullity. <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;On 29/01/2014, the court dismissed the 5th
Defendant’s application for review on the grounds that since the statement of
defence was filed out of time and without leave of the court, the court cannot
en</main>