ABENA OFORIWAA & 2 OTHERS vs. OP KOFI APPIAH (DECEASED), ABENA FIO (DECEASED) [2020]DLCA15101

Date	2020-06-10
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEA NO: H1/09/2020L
Citation No.	[2020]DLCA15101

SOWAH J. A. (PRESIDING)

SUURBAAREH J.A.

MENSAH-HOMIAH J. A.

ASANTE BEKOE FOR THE PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS

D.F. KORSAH BROWN FOR THE DEFENDANTS/RESPONDENTS

[2020]DLCA15101
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >ABENA OFORIWAA &amp; 2 OTHERS<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFFS/ APPELLANTS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>OP
KOFI APPIAH (DECEASED), ABENA FIO (DECEASED)<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS/
RESPONDENTS)<o:p></o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, KOFORIDUA]<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;<div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;">

CIVIL APPEA NO:
H1/09/2020L &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&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: 10TH JUNE 2020<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM<o:p></o:p>SOWAH
J. A. (PRESIDING), SUURBAAREH J.A., MENSAH-HOMIAH J. A.<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top-width: 1.5pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-left: none; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-right: none; padding: 1pt 0in;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;border:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;padding:0in;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0in 1.0pt 0in">JUDGEMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>MENSAH-HOMIAH (MRS.)<o:p></o:p>This is an appeal by the Plaintiffs-Appellants (hereinafter
referred to as the Appellants), against the Judgment of the Circuit Court,
Koforidua, dated 29th November, 2018 in favour of the
Defendants-Counterclaimants- Respondents (hereinafter referred to as the Defendants).
<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;THE FACTS OF THE CASE<o:p></o:p>The key facts in this appeal are that one Opanin Kofi Oduro,
father of the Plaintiffs, died intestate in 1963 and letters of administration
consequently granted in respect of his estate. The defendants are the children
of one Maame Abena Gyamfuaa (deceased), a sister of Opanin Kofi Oduro, (decd.).
The original defendants died and were accordingly substituted. During the
lifetime of Opanin Kofi Oduro, he shared his properties among his wives and
children. However, the disputed property which is said to have been built by
Opanin Kofi Oduro and his late mother was not gifted to his children and/ or
wives. &nbsp;In 1963 when Opanin Kofi Oduro
died, the disputed building comprised a storey building and 11 stores. After
his death the family added six stores making a total of 17 stores. The family
also constructed three kitchens, toilet and bathroom. The Plaintiffs however
occupied a portion of the building. About five decades after the death of
Opanin Kofi Oduro, a document made on 11th August, 1954 purporting
to contain his instructions with regards to his succession and property was
discovered in a diary. Its validity was challenged by the defendants. Thus, the
Plaintiffs instituted an action at the Circuit Court, Koforidua against the
Defendants for a declaration of title to House No. TC 37, New Tafo in the
Eastern Region, among other reliefs.<o:p></o:p>The Respondents entered appearance and filed a statement of
defence on 17th March, 2010. But, on 3rd February, 2011
they amended their defence and added a counterclaim. The Plaintiffs abruptly caused
a notice of discontinuance to be filed on 23rd January, 2015 after
the 2nd Plaintiff had commenced her evidence-in-chief on 3rd
December, 2014. Despite the discontinuance of the Plaintiffs action, the
Defendants did not abandon their counterclaim, which they further amended on 16th
March, 2015 wherein the under listed reliefs were sought:&nbsp; <o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in;mso-text-indent-alt:
-.25in;line-height:115%;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4"><span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
i.<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
A declaration that the paper writing purporting to be a
declaration of the late Opanin Kofi (O)duro is invalid and unenforceable.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:
.0001pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.5in;mso-text-indent-alt:
-.25in;line-height:115%;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo4"><span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
ii.