CROCODILE MATCHETS (GH) LTD vs. ALEX OWARE ENTERPRISE LTD [2019]DLHC7670

Date	2019-02-06
Suit No.	SUIT NO: GJ 156/19
Citation No.	[2019]DLHC7670

HER LADYSHIP OLIVIA OBENG OWUSU J.

PRINCE OPPONG BOAKYE HOLDING BRIEF FOR DAAD AKWESI FOR RESPONDENT

SAM WOOD FOR APPLICANT

[2019]DLHC7670
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >CROCODILE MATCHETS (GH) LTD<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p>ALEX OWARE ENTERPRISE LTD<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[HIGH
COURT (GENERAL JURISDICTION COURT 4), ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

SUIT
NO: GJ 156/19&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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: 6TH FEBRUARY,
2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>PRINCE
OPPONG BOAKYE HOLDING BRIEF FOR DAAD AKWESI FOR RESPONDENT <o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

SAM
WOOD FOR APPLICANT <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;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

HER LADYSHIP OLIVIA OBENG
OWUSU, J.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

RULING<o:p></o:p>

</div>MOTION
ON NOTICE BY DEFENDANT TO FILE DOCUMENTS TO BE RELIED UPON DURING ACCOUNTING <o:p></o:p>I have carefully considered the submissions of
both Counsel.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;I think it is necessary that I give a brief
background to this case.&nbsp; On the 7th
of February, 2017 the respondent herein issued a Writ of Summons against the
applicant for the sum of GH₵1,362,545.853 being the amount owed by the applicant as at 31st
July, 2016 for goods supplied to the applicant with interest from 31st
July, 2016 till date of final payment.&nbsp;
In its amended statement of defence the applicant resisted the respondent’s
claim and counterclaimed for an order for accounts.&nbsp; On the 10th of July, 2017, this
court differently constituted ordered the parties to file their respective witness
statements together with all the documents they will be relying on at the
trial.&nbsp; From the records it appears that
the Case Management Conference was concluded on the 4th of June,
2018 because on the said day the matter was fixed for 12th of
October, 2018 for definite hearing. <o:p></o:p>Since the issue of accounts had been raised on
pleadings the court on 27th of November, 2018 ordered that the
relevant documents be submitted to an independent accountant for reconciliation
of accounts.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>By his application the applicant now seeks to rely
on “a huge bundle documents” during the accounting exercise which hitherto had
not been put before the court or annexed to his witness statement.&nbsp; The question thus to be answered is this;
where were all these documents when the defendant filed its witness statement
or when the Case Management Conference was done?&nbsp; It does not tell the court where the
documents were and why it has been unable to produce them until now.&nbsp; A witness statement now stands as a party’s
evidence – in – chief and allows one’s opponent to know the evidence, which
will be adduced at the trial so that he/she can react to all issues raised.<o:p></o:p>Justice thus requires that as much as possible at
the Case Management Conference a party must provide all the evidence by which
he/she intends to prove his/her case.&nbsp; The
power of the Court ought in my view not to be used to spring surprises on one’s
opponent at such a stage in the proceedings.&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>I have carefully studied the affidavit in support
of the application.&nbsp; The applicant has
not explained away the circumstances of the default and why it will be unjust
not to grant the application.<o:p></o:p>I shall therefore dismiss the application.&nbsp; It is accordingly dismissed.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I award costs of GH₵1,500.00 against the applicant.<o:p></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;&nbs</main>