WALLSTREET MICROFINANCE LIMITED vs. GRACE AMOYAO AND ANOTHER [2020]DLHC9175

Date	2020-05-19
Suit No.	SUIT NO. RPC/11/2018
Citation No.	[2020]DLHC9175

HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE DR. RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE

EUNICE MENSAH FOR BEN ACOLATSE FOR THE PLAINTIFF

[2020]DLHC9175
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >WALLSTREET MICROFINANCE LIMITED<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>GRACE AMOYAO AND ANOTHER&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
(DEFENDANTS)<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. RPC/11/2018&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &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: 19TH
MAY, 2020<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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EUNICE
MENSAH FOR BEN ACOLATSE FOR THE PLAINTIFF.<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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HIS
LORDSHIP JUSTICE DR. RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE, HIGH COURT JUDGE<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><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>On 7th
November, 2017 this suit was instituted by the Plaintiff against the Defendants
herein jointly and severally for the following reliefs endorsed on the writ of
summons:<o:p></o:p>a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
recovery of the sum of One Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy-Three
Ghana Cedis Forty-One Pesewas (GH118,773.41) being outstanding balance and due
as at 27th June, 2017 on the loan facilities granted by the Plaintiff to the
1st Defendant which the 1st Defendant has failed to pay notwithstanding
persistent demands.<o:p></o:p>b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interest
on the said sum at the contractual default rate of 5% per month from 19th
August, 2015 to the date of final payment.<o:p></o:p>c.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cost.<o:p></o:p>d.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Any
further orders or relief that the Court may seem fit to make.<o:p></o:p>An
appearance was entered on behalf of both Defendants but a Statement of Defence
was filed on 7th March, 2018 on behalf of the 2nd Defendant alone. <o:p></o:p>After
unsuccessful attempts at settlement, the following issues were set down for
trial namely:<o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Whether or not 2nd Defendant is a
guarantor under the credit facility granted to the 1st Defendant?<o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Whether or not the guarantee agreement is
binding on the 2nd Defendant?<o:p></o:p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Whether or not the Plaintiff is entitled to
its claim against the 2nd Defendant?<o:p></o:p>The
2nd Defendant however failed or refused to file her Witness Statement after the
Court has made several orders for it to be filed. The court consequently
invoked Order 32 rule 7A of the High Court (Civil Procedure) (Amendment) Rules,
2014, CI 87 and struck out the statement of claim of the 2nd
defendant.<o:p></o:p>With
the continuous absence of the defendants, the court had no option than to
proceed with the case under Order 36 Rule 1(2)(a) of the High Court (Civil
Procedure) Rules 2004, CI 47. It states:<o:p></o:p>Rule 1(2) where an action is
called for trial and a party fails to attend, the trial judge may;<o:p></o:p>a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; where the plaintiff attends and the defendant fails to
attend, dismiss the counterclaim, if any and allow the plaintiff to prove the
claim; …<o:p></o:p>