SMALL SCALE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CO. LTD. vs. JOHN FREEMAN DONKOR AND OTHERS AND ABUSUAPANIN KWAKU MENSAH [2018]DLHC4001

SMALL SCALE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CO. LTD. vs. JOHN FREEMAN DONKOR AND OTHERS AN... [2018]DLHC4001

Date	2018-07-31
Suit No.	SUIT NO. INTS 23/2016
Citation No.	[2018]DLHC4001

DR. RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT

SHADRACH YEBOAH OBENG FOR CLAIMANT

[2018]DLHC4001
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >SMALL SCALE FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE CO. LTD.<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>JOHN FREEMAN DONKOR AND OTHERS&nbsp;&nbsp; 
AND ABUSUAPANIN KWAKU MENSAH<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 1.0pt 0in">

SUIT&nbsp;NO. INTS 23/2016&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; DATE:
31ST
JULY, 2018<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL
<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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</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>Background<o:p></o:p>In
this interpleader action, the Claimant herein claims interest in <a name="_Hlk520747904">property </a><a name="_Hlk520800902">H/No. Plot 26 Block ‘B’ Asokwa New Amakom
Extension, Kumasi (known as Freeman Hotel, Asokwa) </a>which was
attached by the Deputy Sheriff attached to this Court by a Writ of Fifa No. is
56/15 in the substantive suit entitled- SMALL SCALE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CO.
LTD. VRS. JOHN FREEMAN DONKOR &amp;OTHERS.<o:p></o:p>The Claimant’s Case<o:p></o:p>The
basis of the Claimant’s claim as can be gleaned from the Notice of Claim is
thatthe disputed property is the family Property of the Claimant’s family.<o:p></o:p>In
his Affidavit of Interest, the Claimant set out the root of title of the said
property. The Claimant repeated the said root of title per his evidence before
the Court during the hearing. According to the Claimant, the disputed house
belongs to the family of Opanin Kwame Asuming (deceased). The Claimant stated
that he is the head of the said family which is an Aduana family at
AbenaseDwenase near Ejisu in the Ashanti region of the Republic of Ghana. The
Claimant further stated that, the said Opanin Kwame Asuming acquired the
disputed house from one Stephen Kwadwo Manu per a Deed of Assignment dated 1st
December 1969 and registered same at the Lands Commission on 28th April 1970
under Title No. 4325 and Serial No. 247/70.<o:p></o:p>According
to the Claimant, upon the death Intestate of Opanin Kwame Asuming, the said
property became a family property and same was passed onto his successor and
head of family, Kofi Kumah and that the said Kofi Kumah held and managed the
property for the family until his death on 11th February 1995.<o:p></o:p>It
is also the claimant’s case that upon the death of the said Kofi Kumah, he was
appointed by his family as head of the family. The disputed property then came
under his control and management as head of the family to hold and manage same
for the said family.<o:p></o:p>The
Claimant also asserted that, the Judgment Debtor, John Freeman Donkor only
rented the property from his predecessor and used same to operate a Hotel,
hence the name Freeman Hotel. However, the subsisting tenancy presently is not
even with the Defendant/Judgment Debtor but rather same is between the Claimant
acting for the family and a limited liability company called J.F. Donkor Hotel
Co. Ltd. The said tenancy is for a period of twenty (20) years running in three
(3) sub-terms from March 2008.<o:p></o:p>The
Claimant contended that the property in dispute is not for the
Defendant/Judgment Debtor and same accordingly cannot be attached in execution
of judgment against the Defendant/Judgment Debtor.<o:p></o:p>The Case of the Plaintiff/Judgment
Creditor<o:p></o:p>The
Claimant’s claim was disputed per a Notice to Dispute filed by the
Plaintiff/Judgment Creditoron the 7th day of April 2016. Beside the bare denial
of the claimant’s claim, the plaintiff judgment creditor did not lead evidence
in dispute of the claim.<o:p></o:p>The
main issue confronting the court in this suit is: whether or not property H/No.
Plot 26 Block ‘B’ Asokwa New Amakom Extension, Kumasi (known as Freeman Hotel,
Asokwa) can be attached in execution of the judgment against the
Plaintiff/Judgment Debtor, John Freeman Donkor.<o:p></o:p>The
claimant instituted the instant interpleader suit under Order 44 rule 12(1) of
the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2004 C.I. 47 which states:<o:p></o:p>“A
person who makes a claim to or in respect of a property taken or intended to be
taken in execution under process of the Court, or to the proceeds or value of
any such property, shall give notice of the claim to the Registrar and shall
include in the notice a statement of the person’s address for service.”<o:p></o:p>My
understanding of the wording of Order 44 ru</main>