DORIS DAPAAH (PER HER ATTORNEY RICHMOND ARHIN) vs. CEDRIC KOFI OWUSU [2019]DLHC9009

Date	2019-11-21
Suit No.	SUIT NO. LD/0689/16
Citation No.	[2019]DLHC9009

HER LADYSHIP JUSTICE BARBARA TETTEH-CHARWAY (MRS)

ESI PRAH ENNIN FOR PHILIPINNA AKYEA FOR PLAINTIFF

[2019]DLHC9009
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >DORIS DAPAAH (PER HER
ATTORNEY RICHMOND ARHIN)<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>CEDRIC KOFI OWUSU<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[HIGH COURT (LAND 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. LD/0689/16&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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:
21ST NOVEMBER, 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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ESI
PRAH ENNIN FOR PHILIPINNA AKYEA FOR PLAINTIFF&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <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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</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><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The Plaintiff
and the Defendant are currently divorced and live abroad. Some twenty-five (25)
years ago, they both contributed monies towards the purchase of the property in
dispute, known as House No. 215/30, Abeka Lapaz, Accra. The Plaintiff brings
this action on the background that information reaching her indicates that the
Defendant intends to sell off the property when there is no agreement between
them to that effect.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Whereas the
Plaintiff insists on renovating the property, the Defendant desires that it
should be sold so that the proceeds can be shared between the parties after the
various amounts that each has spent on the property has been deducted from the
proceeds of sale. The Plaintiff, in the alternative, prays that she is given
the first option to buy the property in the event that the Court grants the Defendant’s
request for its sale.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Plaintiff has
caused a valuation of the property to be done by the Architectural and
Engineering Services Ltd and the open market value of the property stands at Two
Hundred and Two Thousand and Sixty-Seven Ghana Cedis (GH¢202,067.00). The
Defendant, on the other hand, also claims to have caused a valuation of the
property in question to be done in January 2016 with a resultant price of Two
Hundred and Forty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢240,000.00). &nbsp;<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>To ensure an
equitable distribution of this marital asset, the Court appointed a valuer to
assess a fair market value of the property in dispute. The Court appointed
valuer’s report was not challenged by any of the parties and therefore will be
accepted as a fair assessment of the market value of the property in
dispute.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>It is
significant to note that before the case was set down for trial, the Defendant’s
defence and counterclaim was struck out pursuant to Order 32(A) of C. I. 87 for
failure to file a witness statement. The Defendant, whose lawyer withdrew his
representation in the course of proceedings, was served with hearing notices
but failed to participate in the ensuing trial.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>In the case of Julius Sylvester Bortey Alabi
vs Paresh, &amp; 2 Ors ( 2018) 120 G.M.J page 1, the Supreme Court
per Dotse JSC expressed the view that;<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>