MRS. GRACE BAFFOUR-AWUAH AND MR. BAFFOUR-AWUAH vs. ENOCK ADUSEI POKU [2019]DLCA8864

Date	2019-11-21
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. H1/132/2019
Citation No.	[2019]DLCA8864

OFOE JA (Presiding)

SOWAH JA

SUURBAAREH JA

RAPHAEL AGYAPONG FOR DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS

PAUL TEYE ADEMAN WITH AFUA AHENEY FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT

[2019]DLCA8864
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MRS. GRACE BAFFOUR-AWUAH
AND MR. BAFFOUR-AWUAH<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS/
APPELLANTS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>ENOCK ADUSEI POKU<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<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 NO.&nbsp; H1/132/2019&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; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;DATE: 21ST
NOVEMBER, 2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>RAPHAEL
AGYAPONG FOR DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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PAUL TEYE ADEMAN WITH AFUA AHENEY FOR
PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<a name="_Hlk2214123"><o:p></o:p></a>&nbsp;OFOE JA (Presiding), SOWAH JA, SUURBAAREH JA<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border-top:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;border:none;
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</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>SUURBAAREH,
JA<o:p></o:p>It is provided in Order 2 rule 4 of
the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2004, C.I. 47 as follows; under the
heading “Indorsement as to Capacity”:<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “4(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Before
a writ is filed it shall be indorsed<o:p></o:p>(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;
Where the plaintiff sues in a
representative capacity, with the statement of the capacity in which the
plaintiff sues, or <o:p></o:p>(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;
Where a defendant is sued in a
representative capacity, with a statement of the capacity in which the
defendant is sued.<o:p></o:p>(2)&nbsp;&nbsp; Before
a writ is filed by a plaintiff who acts by an order or on behalf of a person
resident outside Ghana, the writ shall be endorsed with a statement of that
fact and with the address of the person so resident”.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It is also provided in Order 17 rule 2
of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2004, C.I. 47 as follows:<o:p></o:p>“2(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Except
in the case of an interlocutory application, the plaintiff may at any time
before service on the plaintiff of the defendant’s defence or after the service
of it and before taking other proceedings in the action, by notice in writing
wholly discontinue the action against all or any of the defendants or withdraw
any part of the alleged cause of action and thereupon the plaintiff shall pay
the defendant’s costs of the action or if the action is not wholly
discontinued, the costs occasioned by the withdrawal.<o:p></o:p>(2)&nbsp;&nbsp; Such
cost shall be taxed and the discontinuance or withdrawal shall not be a defence
to any subsequent action.<o:p></o:p>(3)&nbsp;&nbsp; Except
as provided in this rule, the plaintiff shall not be entitled to withdraw the
record or discontinue the action without leave of the Court, but the Court may
before, during or after hearing or trial upon such terms as to costs and as to
any other action as may be just, order the action to be discontinued or any
part of the alleged cause of action be struck out”.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Order 19 of the High Court (Civil
Procedure) Rules 2004, C.I. 47, then provides in rule 4, under the heading:
“Stay of Subsequent action until costs are paid”, that if any subsequent action
is brought before the costs of the discontinued action for the same or substantially
the same cause of action, the Court if it thinks fit, may stay the subsequent
action until the costs are paid.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On 20th September 2016, the
Plaintiff/Respondent hereafter called the Respondent, sued out a writ, through
his lawful attorney CORDELIA ARTHUR, who is also his mother, against the
Defendants/Appellants, simply called the Appellants hereafter, claiming a
declaration of title, recovery of possession and an order of perpetual
injunctions in respect of a piece and parcel of land said to be at Nmai Dzorn
and particularly described in the statement of claim.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The Appellants entered appearance to
the writ on 4th October 2016, followed by a Statement of Defence and
a Counterclaim to which the Respondent filed a reply and defence to
counterclaim.&nbsp; After application for
directions in which issues as well as additional issues were filed, the matter
proceeded to trial with the attorney of the Respondent beginning on 12th
June 2017.&nbsp; Thereafter, three other
witnesses were called on behalf of the Respondent and duly cross-examined by 10th
November 2017, when the Court then adjourned the matter to 1st, 2nd,
5th and 7th<</main>