MARK DOGOLI & 2 ORS. vs. ASHANTI GOLDFIELD COMPANY LTD. [2020]DLCA8858

Date	2020-02-19
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO: H1/197/2014
Citation No.	[2020]DLCA8858

LOVELACE-JOHNSON JSC. (PRESIDING)

GYAESAYOR J.A.

SOWAH J.A.

MR. ANTHONY DESEWU FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT

MR. JUSTICE ADUSA-POKU FOR PLAINTIFFS/RESPONDENTS

[2020]DLCA8858
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MARK DOGOLI &amp; 2 ORS.<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFFS/RESPONDENTS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>ASHANTI GOLDFIELD COMPANY
LTD.<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[COURT OF APPEAL, 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">

CIVIL APPEAL NO: H1/197/2014&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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:&nbsp; 19TH FEBRUARY,
2020<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>MR.
ANTHONY DESEWU FOR DEFENDANT/APPELLANT<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">

MR. JUSTICE ADUSA-POKU FOR
PLAINTIFFS/RESPONDENTS <o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p>LOVELACE-JOHNSON
JSC. (PRESIDING), GYAESAYOR J.A., SOWAH J.A.<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;border:none;
mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:1.0pt 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>SOWAH, J.A.:<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The defendant/appellant; hereinafter referred to as
“defendant’ filed an appeal against the judgment of the trial High Court
delivered on 21st October 2009. The judgment is at pages 92-98 of
the record of appeal.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>The trial court held the plaintiff/respondent herein to be
entitled to his claims for damages for wrongful and unlawful termination of
employment and accordingly made awards in plaintiff's favour.<o:p></o:p>Dissatisfied with the judgment, the defendant filed a Notice
of appeal which was pursuant to a Motion on Notice for extension of time within
which to appeal. The Notice of Appeal was filed on 27th August 2010 with
four substantive grounds of appeal. <o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:
150%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">Although neither
lawyer in this appeal raised the issue of the competency nor otherwise of the
Notice of appeal, it is obligatory for an appellate court in every appeal to
ascertain that its jurisdiction has been properly invoked. The
court has a duty whenever it is of the opinion that an appeal was filed out of
time to raise and discuss it since the time within which to file an appeal is a crucial issue
that goes to jurisdiction. The court on its own motion or on application by a
party may strike out a defective Notice of Appeal.<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Thus, I first address the issue whether the jurisdiction of
this court has been properly invoked in accordance with law.<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;
mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Article 137 of the 1992 Constitution and section 11(1)(2) of
the Court’s Act 1993, (Act 459) confers jurisdiction on the Court of Appeal to hear
appeals from the High Court. Such appeals are regulated by the Court of Appeal
Rules, 1997 (CI 19). In order to be entitled to exercise a right
of appeal, the appellant must come within the provisions of the statutes
creating such a right.<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:150%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB"><o:p></o:p>