KWADWO OWUSU vs. K. KYEM [2018]DLCA5215

Date	2018-07-24
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL SUIT NO: H1/41/17
Citation No.	[2018]DLCA5215

ADUAMA OSEI JA (PRESIDING)

DZAMEFE JA

M. WELBOURNE JA

JAMES KOFFIE FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT/ RESPONDENT.

BENJAMIN OSEI BOATENG FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/APPELLANT.

[2018]DLCA5215
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >KWADWO OWUSU<o:p></o:p>(PLANTIFF/RESPONDENT/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>K. KYEM<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/APPELLANT/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</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;
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CIVIL
APPEAL SUIT NO: H1/41/17&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: 24TH JULY,
2018<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>JAMES
KOFFIE FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT/ RESPONDENT.<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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BENJAMIN
OSEI BOATENG FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT/APPELLANT.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM: <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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ADUAMA
OSEI JA (PRESIDING), DZAMEFE JA, M. WELBOURNE JA<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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</div>DZAMEFE,
JA<o:p></o:p>The plaintiff in
his writ claimed for declaration of title to a parcel land situate and lying at
Abrankese commonly known as “Kotoaso”,
recovery of possession of same, an order for the demolition of all structures
constructed thereon, general damages for trespass and the demolition and an order
of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant etc. from further interfering
with the land.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The defendant on
receipt of the writ entered a conditional appearance and filed a motion for the
case to be struck out since plaintiff lacks capacity to institute the
case.&nbsp; That the plaintiff isnot the head
of family and so must satisfy the “statutory,
legislative and judicial” requirements that would entitle him to institute
the action in the stead of the substantive head of family.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The defendant avers
that the instant action by the plaintiff is an abuse of the court process and
intended to embarrass and unnecessarily torment him given that the plaintiff
has by his previous conduct acquiesced in his acquisition of the lands and his
dealings thereof.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>He averred further
that the plaintiff in an earlier suit entitled KwadwoOwusuvrs K. Kyem at the Circuit Court Bekwai, Ashanti Suit No.
A1/13/15, for similar reliefs, he challenged his capacity which challenge
was upheld bythe court.&nbsp; He prayed the
High Court to strike out the plaintiff’s action as incompetent and an abuse of
the court process. That the plaintiff by his conduct, participation and
engagement in the land clearance and development processes is legally estopped
for denying the legitimacy of the defendant’s acquisition and possession of the
subject matter land.&nbsp; He listed the
particulars of the estoppel.<o:p></o:p>The defendant filed
a motion on notice challenging the capacity of the plaintiff and prayed the
suit be struck out for plaintiffs lack of capacity to institute the action.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>RULING<o:p></o:p>The High Court in
its ruling said the plaintiff clearly sued for and on behalf of the entire
family because the head of family being too old had given him his consent.&nbsp; However, there is no power of attorney
indicating that consent. In the absence of the power of attorney the writ of
summons was accordingly struck out with cost of Gh¢1000 against the plaintiff/
respondent.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The plaintiff/respondent
dissatisfied with the said ruling filed this appeal on the following grounds: -<o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
Ruling was against the weight of evidence.<o:p></</main>