MADAM AFUA AKYIAA vs CHARLES YAW OPOKU MENSAH AND ANOTHER [2019]DLHC6873

Date	2019-03-04
Suit No.	SUIT NO. OCC 09/2019
Citation No.	[2019]DLHC6873

HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE DR. RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE

JUDY EDUSEI FOR THE DEFENDANTS/APPLICANTS

MICHAEL ATTA AGYEI FOR THE PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT

[2019]DLHC6873
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MADAM AFUA AKYIAA<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs<o:p></o:p>CHARLES YAW OPOKU MENSAH AND ANOTHER<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(DEFENDANT)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, KUMASI]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">SUIT NO. OCC 09/2019&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; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; DATE: 4TH MARCH, 2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>JUDY EDUSEI FOR THE DEFENDANTS/APPLICANTS<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
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PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE DR. RICHMOND
OSEI-HWERE<o:p></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="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In
this application, the defendants/applicants, hereinafter called “the
Applicants” are praying this court for an order setting aside the Entry of
Judgment filed against them on 24th of December, 2018 by the
plaintiff/respondent, hereinafter called “the Respondent”.<o:p></o:p>On
31st August, 2018 the respondent issued a writ of summons against
the applicants claiming the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p>a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
An order for the recovery of the sum of
Eighty-Nine Thousand Ghana Cedis(GHC89,000.00) from the Defendants which said
sum represents this unpaid portion of the total value of goods sold and
supplied to Defendants by the Plaintiff as of January, 2018.<o:p></o:p>b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Interest on the said sum from January, 2018
till date of final payment.<o:p></o:p>c.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
General and special damages including legal
fees and cost.<o:p></o:p>d.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Any other relief(s) deemed appropriate by
the Honorable Court.<o:p></o:p>At
the pre-trial settlement conference, the applicants admitted respondent’s claim
in respect of GHC 53,706.70 of the amount entered on the writ and it was agreed
that the honourable court enters judgment in favour of the respondent to the
sum admitted. It was also agreed that the outstanding sum of GHC 35,293.70 was
to be set down for trial.<o:p></o:p>The
gravamen of the application is that the Entry of Judgment does not reflect the
terms of settlement upon which partial judgment was entered against the
applicants in the sum of Fifty-Three Thousand Seven Hundred and Six Ghana Cedis
Seventy Pesewas (GHC 53,706.70) on 28th November, 2018. Counsel for
the applicants argues that per Exhibit A (Terms of Settlement) no interest was
mentioned. It is, therefore, wrong for interest to be calculated on the agreed
amount in the Entry of Judgment. Counsel cites the case of Owusu v Kumah and
Anor (1984/86) 2GLR 29 in support of the view that parties are bound by their
terms of settlement and as such same must reflect in the Entry of Judgment. She
invites the court to set aside the Entry of Judgment.<o:p></o:p>The
respondent is opposed to the application. Central to the respondent’s
opposition is the fact that he is entitled to interest on the agreed sum as per
reliefs “b”, “c” and “d” of the writ interest had been prayed for. Counsel for
the respondent argues that it is the practice at the Commercial Court that once
you admit to a claim you are to pay interest from the date of default hence the
respondent is entitled to interest on the agreed sum, as captured in the Entry
of Judgment. He also argues that if the court is of the opinion that the
applicants’ argument relating to the interest is to be entertained then the
entirety of the Entry of Judgment cannot be set aside but same can be amended.
He prays that the application be dismissed.<o:p></o:p></main>