NII BOYE JOHN, NII KORMETTEH OKANG AND NII KPEWIE SOWAH vs. NII BOYE KUMAH AND 5 OTHERS [2019]DLHC6835

NII BOYE JOHN, NII KORMETTEH OKANG AND NII KPEWIE SOWAH vs. NII BOYE KUMAH AND... [2019]DLHC6835

Date	2019-03-27
Suit No.	SUIT NO: BFA 20/2012
Citation No.	[2019]DLHC6835

HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE KWEKU T. ACKAAH-BOAFO

MR. PRINCE FREDERICK NII-ASHIE NEEQUAYE FOR THE PLAINTIFFS

MR. THEOPHILUS CODJOE FOR THE DEFENDANTS

[2019]DLHC6835
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >NII BOYE JOHN, NII
KORMETTEH OKANG AND NII KPEWIE SOWAH<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFFS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>NII BOYE KUMAH AND 5
OTHERS<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[HIGH COURT (GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION), ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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SUIT
NO: BFA 20/2012 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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: 27TH MARCH, 2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL: <o:p></o:p>MR. PRINCE FREDERICK
NII-ASHIE NEEQUAYE FOR THE PLAINTIFFS <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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MR.
THEOPHILUS CODJOE FOR THE DEFENDANTS <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;
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HIS
LORDSHIP JUSTICE KWEKU T. ACKAAH-BOAFO<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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</div>Introduction:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>[1]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I will prefix this
judgment with the quote attributed to the English Judge Lord Edmund-Davies,
made many years ago but often ignored. He said that “Litigation is not an
activity that has contributed markedly to the happiness of mankind”. Like many
people in the past the parties herein who claim to be members of the Ashia We
Family of Teshie have also ignored the above statement. The parties are divided
over their membership of the Ashia We family and in this suit are contesting
who is the qualified Head of Family among other issues. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[2]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This Court is charged
with determining the legal issues surrounding their membership including a
declaration that there is no substantive head of Ashia We and that the 1st
Defendant was only appointed as a caretaker head of family of Ashia We and not
its head and whether or not two divisions, that is Badu Anuaku and Nii Adjei
Osabu Kwao constitute Ashia We or four divisions constitute Ashia We. Unfortunately,
in the opinion of the Court this judgment may likely not resolve the internal
conflict over their membership of the Ashia We of Teshie. Ultimately, in the
Court’s opinion it is only the members of the Ashis We Family themselves who
collectively, must resolve to settle their conflict by working within the
framework of their history, custom and this judgment to let peace prevail as
members of the same family. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[3]&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; That being said, I note that this case was transferred to this Court
by the hand of the Chief Justice when it was partly-heard before Obimpe J (as
he then was). I also note that when the matter came to this Court due to the
lack of availability of all of the proceedings, the matter could not be heard
immediately. Ultimately, some of the witnesses had to be recalled for their
evidence to be retaken. From the available proceedings and based on the dates
of adjournments it looks as if some of the proceedings are still missing. For
instance on June 13, 2014 the Court adjourned the suit to be continued on 17
and 18, July 2014 but there is no record of what happened. The next available
proceedings is dated April 2, 2015. I note that when the Court inquired from
Counsel both of whom have been engaged in the matter from its inception they
said none of the proceedings was missing and so we proceeded. In order for one
to understand the claims made I shall set out in detail the pleadings filed by
the parties.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>ii.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
Plaintiffs Reliefs &amp; Claim:<o:p></o:p>[4]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
Plaintiffs claim against the Defendants as per his Writ of Summons issued on
November 11, 2011, is for the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;
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