SAMUEL KOJO DANKWA VS. THE REPUBLIC [2019]DLHC10141

Date	2019-03-25
Suit No.	SUIT NO. CR/308/2019
Citation No.	[2019]DLHC10141

JUSTICE GEORGE BUADI J.

ELIZABETH WARD BREW FOR CONVICT APPLICANT PRESENT

NANA ASANTEWAA ATAKORA (ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY FOR REP/RESP. PRESENT

[2019]DLHC10141
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >SAMUEL KOJO DANKWA<o:p></o:p>(APPLICANT)<o:p></o:p>VS.<o:p></o:p>THE REPUBLIC<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT
(CRIMINAL DIVISION, 5), ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">SUIT
NO. CR/308/2019&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;DATE: MARCH 25, 2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>ELIZABETH WARD
BREW FOR CONVICT APPLICANT PRESENT<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
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ASANTEWAA ATAKORA (ASSISTANT STATE ATTORNEY FOR REP/RESP. PRESENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>JUSTICE GEORGE
BUADI J.<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top-width: 1.5pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-left: none; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-right: none; padding: 1pt 0cm;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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</div>I have had ample time to peruse the affidavit filed in support of the convict’s
application filed on 25 February 2019<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;"> for extension of time to appeal to this court from the
judgment of the District Court, Teshie-Nungua that was given on 18 Dec. 2018. I have also
read the affidavit of the learned assistant state attorney filed on 22 February
2019. The <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">application
has been brought pursuant to the Criminal
and Other Offences and Procedure Act, 1960 (Act 30) s.325(2), which
provides as follows:<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">&nbsp;325.
Limitation<o:p></o:p>(1) An appeal shall be entered within one month of
the date of the order or sentence appealed against.<o:p></o:p>(2) The High Court may for good cause admit
an appeal though the period of limitation prescribed by this section has
elapsed. (emphasis added)<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">On
the facts on the affidavit, the applicant was arraigned before the District
Court, Teshie-Nungua on 18 December 2018 on a charge of stealing “twenty five
(25) packets of plastic Malta Guinness valued at GHc625.00 …” Applicant was
arrested without warrant and sent to the court. On the said date, the district
court convicted and sentenced applicant based on his guilty plea to four months
imprisonment in in hard labour at the Nsawam Prison. The court in addition
ordered applicant to pay to the victim complainant the value of the stolen
goods, GHc625.00.<o:p></o:p><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: &quot;Book Antiqua&quot;, serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">Clearly
the one month the law prescribes for filing of appeal against the decision of
the trial district court has lapsed. On the strength, construction, and
application of clause 2 of s.325 above, I have had to confront myself in my
usual judicial dilemma to grant the application, I should restrict myself just to
the cause/s or reason/s for the delay for the appeal, or that the court must in
addition consider the merits of the appeal as they appear on the face of the
application. That is, the statutory requisite show of “good cause” must not</main>