MOST REV. TITUS AWOTWI AND 3 OTHERS vs. JACQUELINE BOAKYE [2019]DLHC6891

Date	2019-06-24
Suit No.	SUIT NO: OCC/58/2017
Citation No.	[2019]DLHC6891

HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE DR. RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE

AKUA POKUAA KWARTENG FOR THE PLAINTIFFS

STEPHEN ALEWABA FOR THE DEFENDANT

[2019]DLHC6891
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MOST REV.
TITUS AWOTWI AND 3 OTHERS<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFFS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>JACQUELINE
BOAKYE<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT (COMMERCIAL DIVISION), 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: OCC/58/2017&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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: 24TH
JUNE, 2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:
<o:p></o:p>AKUA
POKUAA KWARTENG 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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STEPHEN
ALEWABA FOR THE DEFENDANT<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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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:
115%;mso-outline-level:1;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in">HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE DR.
RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE<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>Background<o:p></o:p>The
Plaintiffs in this case issued a Writ of Summons against the Defendant herein for
the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p>(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Recovery
of the sum of Thirty-Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS35,000.00) being rent
arrears as at November, 2016.<o:p></o:p>(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interest
on the said sum of Thirty-Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS35,000.00) at the
prevailing lending rate from November 2016 up till the date of full and final
payment.<o:p></o:p>(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Costs including legal fees.<o:p></o:p>On
11th May, 2017 final judgment in default of appearance was entered against the
Defendant in the sum of GHC35,000.00 and interest at the prevailing Commercial
Bank lending rate from November, 2016 till date of final payment. Costs of
GHC3,000.00 was also awarded against the Defendant.<o:p></o:p>On
26th October, 2017 the default judgment was set aside upon an application by
the Defendant. Consequently, the Defendant filed a statement of defence on 14th
November, 2017 and counter claimed against the Plaintiffs as follows:<o:p></o:p>a. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A
declaration that all items (personal effects/belongings which were &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; illegally and or unlawfully ceased by
Plaintiffs/Representatives be released to her (Defendant) by Plaintiffs and/or
their representatives.<o:p></o:p>b. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; General
damages for keeping the said items (personal effects/belongings) &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; by the Plaintiffs without any
legitimate order.<o:p></o:p>c.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Costs.<o:p></o:p>Plaintiff’s Case<o:p></o:p>One
Nana Yaw Boakye testified on behalf of the plaintiffs. The crux of the
plaintiffs' case is that the Defendant was a tenant of property with address,
House No. 9, VRA Ward, Ridge, Kumasi which was owned by the late Edward Osei Boakye.
The property is now owned by the 4th defendant while the 1st, 2nd and 3rd
defendants are the executors of the WILL of the deceased and trustees of the
4th Plaintiff. The Property in question are 2 bungalows and the defendant
rented both for herself and her brother. According to the plaintiff’s
representative, sometime in 2008 after the death of Edward Osei Boakye, the 4th
Plaintiff took over the management of the property. It was then that the
Defendant wrote to the 4th Plaintiff that she paid GHC13,200.00 to the deceased
and it was agreed that the amount should cover rent between September 2008 and
December, 2010. It is their case that although there was no documentary
evidence in respect of the said amount they agreed to the arrangement. The
plaintiffs also claim that in 2010, they agreed with the Defendant on the amount
of GHC250 as the monthly rent payable per bungalow. It is their case that the
defendant has defaulted in the payment of rent from November, 2010 to November,
2016. They are therefore claiming from the defendant the accumulated amount of
GHC35,000.00 plus interest on the said amount.<o:p></o:p>The Defendant’s Case<o:p></o:p>The
Defendant also avers that she rented two bungalows from the deceased, Edward
Osei Boakye sometime in 2001 and that after his death, no one contacted her to
pay rent or to inform her that the rent has </main>