KWABENA ASANTE KROBEA vs. GOLD COAST FUND MANAGEMENT [2019]DLHC11751

Date	2019-11-25
Suit No.	SUIT NO. C2/103/12019
Citation No.	[2019]DLHC11751

JUSTICE FRANCIS OBIRI

JUDY EDUSEI FOR THE PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT

DR. FREDRICK BOAMAH FOR THE DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT

[2019]DLHC11751
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >KWABENA
ASANTE KROBEA<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>GOLD COAST
FUND MANAGEMENT<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, KUMASI]<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;
text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">SUIT NO. C2/103/12019&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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:
25TH NOVEMBER 2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL<o:p></o:p>JUDY EDUSEI FOR THE
PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT <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;">

DR. FREDRICK BOAMAH FOR THE DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM<o:p></o:p>HIS
LORDSHIP JUSTICE FRANCIS OBIRI&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <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="MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:115%;
border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:
solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;On 14th August
2019, the Plaintiff/Applicant hereinafter called the Applicant issued a writ
against the Defendant for:<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(a) The recovery of cash the sum of One
Million Four Hundred and Sixty-Nine Thousand Ghana Cedis, sixty-four pesewas
being various investments placed with the defendant at different times which
amount the defendant has failed or refused to pay despite repeated demands.<o:p></o:p>(b) Interest on the said
amount at the prevailing bank rate from 1st November 2018 to date of
final payment.<o:p></o:p>The Defendant/Respondent
hereinafter called the Respondent entered appearance on 18th
September 2019 and filed her statement of defence on the same date which was 18th
September 2019.<o:p></o:p>On 18th October
2019, the Applicant filed an application for summary judgment under Order 14 of
CI 47.&nbsp; It was served on the Respondent
counsel on 23rd October 2019.&nbsp;
The Respondent filed affidavit in opposition to the application on 7th
November 2019.&nbsp; The Applicant also filed
a supplementary affidavit on 31st October 2019.&nbsp; It was served on the Respondent counsel on 2nd
November 2019.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>The motion was heard on 20th
November 2019.&nbsp; The main contention of
the Applicant counsel was that, the Respondent statement of defence does not
disclose any triable issue.&nbsp; Therefore, summary
judgment should be entered in favour of the Applicant.&nbsp; The Respondent affidavit in opposition was to
the effect that, her defence discloses triable issues.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>The purpose of summary
judgment under Order 14 of CI 47 is to allow a plaintiff to obtain judgment
summarily without necessarily going through trial, in a situation where the
defendant is not able to set up any bonafide defence.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>Again, in summary judgment,
the plaintiff claim should be clear on the face of it.&nbsp; The defendant should have been served with
the plaintiff writ, entered appearance, and filed a defence. &nbsp;&nbsp;Also, the plaintiff claim should be clear and
unimpeachable.<o:p></o:p>See:
Yartel Boat Building Co. V Annan [1991] 2 GLR 11<o:p></o:p>Atlanta
Timber Co. V Victoria Timber Co. Ltd [1962] 1 GLR 221<o:p></o:p>Sanunu
V Salifu [2009] SCGLR 586<o:p></o:p>This means that, in a
situation where the defendant is not able to set up a good defence then, the
court may grant summary judgment.<o:p></o:p>See:
Ballast Nedam Ghana BV. V Horizon Marine Construction [2010] SCGLR 435<o:p></o:p>Duncan
V Kawoaco Ltd. [1981] GLR 476<o:p></o:p>This means that, a court
cannot grant summary judgment if the defendant’s defence disclose triable
issues<o:p></o:p>See:
Mustapha V National Investment Bank Ltd [2005-2006] SCGLR 1037<o:p></o:p>