KWADWO OPOKU & ANOTHER vs. ERIC KOFI BOATENG [2018]DLHC3984

Date	2018-02-06
Suit No.	SUIT NO. OCC. 80/2017
Citation No.	[2018]DLHC3984

DR. RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT

ANITA ASHONG-KATAI FOR PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT

AMA ASSENSO FOR DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT

[2018]DLHC3984
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >KWADWO OPOKU &amp;
ANOTHER<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>ERIC KOFI BOATENG<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;
padding:0in 0in 0in 0in">

SUIT&nbsp;NO. OCC. 80/2017&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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: 6TH FEBRUARY, 2018<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL<o:p></o:p>ANITA ASHONG-KATAI FOR
PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT<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">

AMA
ASSENSO FOR DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT<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;
padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">

DR.
RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE JUSTICE OF THE HIGH
COURT<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;
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">RULING<o:p></o:p>

</div>This
ruling seeks to determine the merits of the preliminary legal objection
challenging the jurisdiction of the Commercial Court from hearing an
application for an order appointing a receiver under Order 27(1) of the High
Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 (CI 47) and for an ancillary injunction order
under Order 27(2) of CI 47.<o:p></o:p>The
issue of “whether or not the suit has been commenced in the proper forum” is
one of the issues set out for trial. The court,however, decided to hear and
determine this preliminary legal issue in a bid to ensure speedy and effective
justice as required by Order 1 rule 1(2) of CI 47. This is coupled with the
fact that the issue of jurisdiction of the court can be raised at any time. See
Republic v High Court Denu, Ex-parte Avadali IV [1993/94] 1GLR 561 at 562
(holding 1).<o:p></o:p>I
have carefully considered the arguments advanced by both counsel. While counsel
for the defendant/respondent argues that the commercial court has no
jurisdiction to entertain the motion, as the suit relates to land not commerce,
counsel for the plaintiff/applicant submits that the substance of the suit
shows that the reliefs are commercial in nature and as such the commercial
court has the jurisdiction to hear same. Counsel for the defendant/respondent
submits that the enactment of Order 58 of CI 47 which sets out matters which
could be tried by the commercial court limits it to only matters specified in
the Order, therefore the commercial court has no jurisdiction to try matters
that are not set out in the Order. Both counsel agree that the Commercial Court
has jurisdiction to try commercial claims.<o:p></o:p>Rule
58.1(2) of UK’s Civil Procedure Rules, 1998 defines ‘commercial claims’ to
mean:<o:p></o:p>“Any
claim arising out of the transaction of trade and commerce and includes any
claim relating to: (a) a business document or contract, (b) the export or
import of goods, (c) the carriage of goods by land, sea, air or pipeline, (d)
the exploitation of oil and gas reserves or other natural resources, (e)
insurance and re-insurance, (f) banking and financial services, (g) the
operation of markets and exchanges, (h) the purchase and sale of commodities,
(i) the construction of ships, (j) business agency, and (k) arbitration.”<o:p></o:p>This
definition together with many of the procedures of UK’s Commercial Court were
adopted by Lord Woolf in his Access for
Justice, Final Report, 1996. Lord Woolf’s blueprint for reform of civil
litigation in general has found its way into the Civil Procedure Rules 1998.<o:p></o:p>It
appears Ghana’s Rules Committee also took inspiration from r 58.1(2) of Civil
Procedure Rules, 1998. Order 58 rule 2 of CI 47 defines the nature of commercial
claim as:<o:p></o:p>“2.
A commercial claim is any claim arising out of trade and commerce and includes
any claim relating to:- <o:p></o:p>i.
The formation or governance of a business or commercial organization. <o:p></o:p>ii.
The winding up or bankruptcy of a Commercial or business or commercial
organization or corporate person. <o:p></o:p>iii.
The restructuring or payment of commercial debts by or to business or
commercial organization or person.<o:p></o:p>iv.
A business document or contract. <o:p></o:p>v.
The export or import of goods. <o:p></o:p>vi.
The carriage of goods by sea, air, land or pipeline. <o:p></o:p>vii.
The exploration of oil and gas reserves.<o:p></o:p>