JOHNSON OSSEI vs. GOLD COAST FUND MANAGEMENT LIMITED [2019]DLHC6881

Date	2019-05-02
Suit No.	SUIT NO. OCC 57/2019
Citation No.	[2019]DLHC6881

HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE DR. RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE

S. ANAGLATE FOR THE PLAINTIFF

[2019]DLHC6881
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >JOHNSON OSSEI<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>GOLD COAST FUND
MANAGEMENT LIMITED<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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SUIT
NO.&nbsp; OCC 57/2019&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; DATE: 2ND MAY, 2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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S.
ANAGLATE FOR THE PLAINTIFF<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="text-align:center;line-height:115%;
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</div>On
10th January, 2019, the plaintiff herein issued a writ of summons
against the defendant herein seeking the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
An order for the Recovery of the total
amount of GH¢210,980.96 from the Defendant being amounts invested with the
Defendant by the Plaintiff and the interest which amounts the Defendant has
refused to pay to the Plaintiff despite the said Investments maturing since the
7th and 27th of November, 2018 respectively.<o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Interest on the amount of GH¢105,490.48 at
the prevailing commercial rate from 7th of November, 2018 till the
date of final payment and on the amount of GH¢105,490.48 at the prevailing
commercial rate from 27th November, 2018.<o:p></o:p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Damages for Breach of Contract.<o:p></o:p>4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Costing including legal cost.<o:p></o:p>On
15th February, 2019 the plaintiff filed an ex-parte motion for
interlocutory judgment in default of appearance after the defendant had failed
or refused to enter an appearance. On 21st February, 2019 an
interlocutory judgment was entered in favour of the plaintiff against the
defendant in respect of reliefs (1) and (2) of the writ of summons. Costs of
GHC 15,000.00 was awarded against the defendant. The matter was adjourned for
hearing relating to the assessment of damages.<o:p></o:p>The
law is that general damages lie for every infringement of an absolute right.
The Supreme Court held in the case of Delmas Agency Ghana Ltd vrs Food
Distributors International Ltd [2007/2008] SCGLR 748, 760 thus:<o:p></o:p>‘‘General damages is such as the law
will presume to be the probable or natural consequences of the defendant’s act.
It arises by inference of law and therefore need not be proved by evidence. The
law implies general damages in every infringement of an absolute right. The
catch is that only general damages are awarded.<o:p></o:p>Where a plaintiff has suffered a
properly quantifiable loss, he must plead specifically his loss and prove it
strictly. If he does not he is not entitled to anything unless general damages
are also appropriate.’’<o:p></o:p>When
the plaintiff testified, he led evidence in respect of the substantive claim.
He failed or refused to lead evidence to establish specific losses. However,
general damages are appropriate in the circumstance as of right.<o:p></o:p>Consequently,
I award general damages of GHC 25,000.00 in favour of the plaintiffs. I also
enter final judgment in favour of the plaintiff.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp</main>