CECILIA OWUSU ANSAH AND LINDA ADU-GYAMFI vs. FIRST ALLIED SAVINGS & LOANS LTD [2018]DLHC3971

Date	2018-11-28
Suit No.	SUIT NO. RPC 05/2019
Citation No.	[2018]DLHC3971

DR. RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT

[2018]DLHC3971
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >CECILIA OWUSU ANSAH AND
LINDA ADU-GYAMFI<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>FIRST ALLIED SAVINGS
&amp; LOANS LTD<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;[HIGH COURT
(COMMERCIAL DIVISION), KUMASI]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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SUIT&nbsp;NO. RPC 05/2019&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: 28TH NOVEMBER, 2018<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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</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;
text-align:center;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>The
Plaintiffs’ claim against the Defendant was for the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p>a.Recovery
of the amount of GHC<a name="_Hlk531090191">58,054.05 </a>being their
investment plus accrued interest.<o:p></o:p>b.Interest
on the amount invested plus date of final payment.<o:p></o:p>c.General
Damages.<o:p></o:p>d.Cost.<o:p></o:p>On
2nd November, 2018 the court entered interlocutory judgment in
favour of the Plaintiffs for recovery of the sum of GHC58,054.05 plus interest
on the amount till date of final payment. The suit was, however, adjourned for
assessment of damages and the determination of costs.<o:p></o:p>The
law is that general damages lie for every infringement of an absolute right.
The Supreme Court held in the case of Delmas Agency Ghana Ltd v Food
Distributors International Ltd [2007/2008] SCGLR 748, 760 thus:<o:p></o:p>‘‘General
damages is such as the law will presume to be the probable or natural
consequences of the defendant’s act. It arises by inference of law and
therefore need not be proved by evidence. The law implies general damages in
every infringement of an absolute right. The catch is that only general damages
are awarded.<o:p></o:p>Where
a plaintiff has suffered a properly quantifiable loss, he must plead
specifically his loss and prove it strictly. If he does not he is not entitled
to anything unless general damages are also appropriate.’’<o:p></o:p>The
1st Plaintiff testified on her own behalf and on behalf of the 2nd
Plaintiff. She told the court that upon maturity of their investment, they went
to the defendant for their money but the defendant could not fulfil its
promise. According to the 1st plaintiff, she needed money to pay for
her children’s school fees and was compelled to borrow money for that purpose.
She also told the court that she needed money to continue with the construction
of her house but because of the default she could not do so and presently, the
prices of building materials have gone up. She added that the default has also
affected the 2nd defendant’s business,as she has no means to refill
her stock.<o:p></o:p>The
Plaintiffs per their reliefs stated in no uncertain terms that their claim was
for general damages not special damages.The evidence led suggests that they
indeed suffered a quantifiable loss albeit no better particulars of the loss
were provided. For instance, the loan sum allegedly procured for payment of
school fees as well as the interest thereon were not provided. Be that as it
may, since general damages lie when there is an infringement of an absolute
right, the plaintiffs are entitled to the same.<o:p></o:p>Consequently,
I award damages of GHC 8,000.00 against the defendant and in favour of the
plaintiffs. I also award costs of GHC 6,000 in favour of the plaintiffs.<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; <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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>

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