[2018]DLCA4960 Login to Read Full Case <span style="font-size: 18px !important;"><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; color:#00B0F0">PETER KWABENA ACHEAMPONG<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">(PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; color:#00B0F0">YAW APPIAH SARPONG AND DESMOND ADDO BINEY<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">(DEFENDANTS/RESPONDENTS)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; text-align:center;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">[COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%;border:none; mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">SUIT NO.H1/120/16 1<sup>ST</sup> FEBRUARY, 2018<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">NII AKWEI BRUCE THOMPSON FOR PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT<o:p></o:p></span></p> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:115%"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">CORAM:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">CORAM: V. D. OFOE JA (PRESIDING), I. C. LARBI (MRS.) JA, M. M. AGYEMANG (MRS.) JA<o:p></o:p></span></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;line-height:115%;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"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align: justify;line-height:115%"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"">AGYEMANG JA:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">In this appeal against the judgment of the High Court (Land Division) Accra, delivered on the 11<sup>th</sup> day of January 2011, the plaintiff/appellant (hereafter referred to as the plaintiff), seeks a setting aside of the judgment of the court below that entered judgment for the defendant/respondent (referred to hereafter as the defendant). The appellant prays that judgment be entered for him instead.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">These matters are antecedent to the appeal.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The plaintiff, a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, on the 12<sup>th</sup> of August 1981, allegedly purchased a parcel of land more particularly described as situate, lying and being at Nungua New Town- Accra Ghana and “bounded on the North-East by Mr. Abu’s property measuring 105 ft. more or less, on the South East by a proposed road measuring 800 ft. more or less, on the South West by Nungua Stool Land measuring 102 ft. more or less and on the North West side by Nungua Stool Land measuring 80 ft. more or less and containing an approximate area of 0.19 acres.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">It was the plaintiff’s case that the land was purchased from the then Nungua Mantse: Nii Odai Ayiku IV in the name of one Kwame Nkrumah. The plaintiff alleged this Kwame Nkrumah to be his son who at the time of the transaction, was a minor. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">It was the plaintiff’s case that he obtained an indenture conveying the property to Kwame Nkrumah, in 1981 and registered same. He also in 2002, applied for, and obtained a Land Certificate evidencing title to the land. According to the plaintiff, after the purchase, he went into possession immediately, and constructed a four bedroom house on the land, with a living room, kitchen, toilets and a garage. He roofed one of the rooms and placed a caretaker in it. He then built a foundational structure for a boys’ quarters. He averred that from time to time, he would visit the land whereat he had placed the caretaker: Kanbase Asoro Kwabena (otherwise referred to as Kwabena Kamboshie).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">It was the evidence of the plaintiff that in 2001, he went onto the land and to his dismay, found his entire building, the four-bedroom structure demolished. The land had been completely cleared, and not even the debris from the demolition was on it. The only thing left of his presence on the land, was the foundation for the boys’ quarters. He recounted that it was while he was on the land that his caretaker showed up, and informed him that his building had been demolished by the second defendant and one “Red”. The said gentlemen had allegedly informed the caretaker that the plaintiff was dead and that he had died leaving a debt at the bank. The gentlemen then allegedly told the caretaker that the property had to be sold off to pay the debt. Thus did the two come onto the land, demolish the building and cart off the debris, leaving nothing on the land. The plaintiff noted that someone, holding himself as the owner of the property, had advertised it for sale on posters on the wall. Thus did the plaintiff find out the identity of the first defendant.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The plaintiff thus commenced suit against the first defendant seeking the following reliefs: a declaration of title to the land, recovery of possession, damages for trespass and a perpetual injunction against the first defendant and his privies. In the course of the suit the second defendant was joined to it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The defendants denied the claims of the plaintiff. The first defendant’s case was that he bought the land in dispute through the second defendant, an Assemblyman and go-between of the Klanaa Quarter of La and that he paid ¢50,000,000 (fifty million old cedis) therefor. It was his evidence that there was nothing on the land when he made his purchase, and that he proceeded to put up a building on it. This building he has since sold to another. At the close of pleadings, eleven issues were set out for determination. After trial, the court below dismissed the suit of the plaintiff. <i>Inter alia</i>, the court held that the plaintiff had not made out a case entitling him to the declaration of title he sought, and furthermore, that the plaintiff was guilty of fraud with regard to the registration of the deed of conveyance, and the procurement of a land title certificate. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">It is against the said judgment that the instant appeal has been brought.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The plaintiff as appellant set out nine grounds of appeal which we reproduce <i>in extenso</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.25in;line-height: 115%"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:"Book Antiqua","serif";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">“i.