MILDRED GYEMFIAH vs. PAUL GYEMFIAH [2021]DLHC11638

Date	2021-12-21
Suit No.	SUIT NO: E6/12/19
Citation No.	[2021]DLHC11638

HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE DR. RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE J.

EMMANUEL ARTHUR ESQ FOR RESPONDENT/APPLICANT

EBO DONKOR ESQ FOR THE PETITIONER/RESPONDENT

[2021]DLHC11638
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MILDRED GYEMFIAH<o:p></o:p>(PETITIONER/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>PAUL GYEMFIAH<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT/APPLICANT)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH COURT, SEKONDI]<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">SUIT NO: E6/12/19&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;DATE: 21ST DECEMBER,
2021<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL<o:p></o:p>EMMANUEL ARTHUR ESQ FOR RESPONDENT/APPLICANT<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: windowtext; padding: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:
justify;line-height:115%;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">EBO DONKOR ESQ, FOR THE
PETITIONER/RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM<o:p></o:p>HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE DR. RICHMOND OSEI-HWERE
J.<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 0cm;">

<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-align:center;line-height:115%;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">RULING<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In
this application the Respondent/Applicant (hereinafter called the Applicant) is
seeking the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p><span 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;;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An order to set aside execution processes <o:p></o:p><span 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;;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Release of vehicle No. WR 273-14<o:p></o:p><span 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;;
mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">c.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Leave to pay maintenance arrears by installment.<o:p></o:p>On 26th March, 2019 this Court granted an
application for interim Custody and Maintenance in favour of the Applicant and Petitioner/Respondent
{hereinafter called the Respondent} respectively. Respondent’s complaint is
that the Applicant has defaulted in the payment of the monthly maintenance
amount of GH ¢400.00 which was awarded pending the final determination of the
Suit. Respondent has, therefore, attached vehicle No. WR 273-14 in execution of
the maintenance order.<o:p></o:p>It is Applicant’s case that the said vehicle is a
subject of the Suit pending before this Court. That the Court is yet to make a
determination as to the entitlement of the parties. That the execution process was
effected in bad faith and premature. It is her case that Applicant has other
vehicles and the sale of the subject vehicle will not cause any hardship to
him. <o:p></o:p>By Order 43 rule 1{1} of C.I 47, a judgment or order
from the payment of money, not being a judgment or order for the payment of
money into court may be enforced by means including writ of fifa. In a writ of fifa,
the subject property must belong to the Judgment debtor.<o:p></o:p>Thus, in instances where ownership of the property
is in dispute, the said property cannot be attached in execution via writ of fifa
or other means of enforcement.<o:p></o:p>In the instant case, vehicle Number WR 273-14 and
other properties are subject of this matrimonial action. Per the reliefs sought
in this petition, the Respondent herein is praying for an equal share of the
properties acquired in the course of the marriage. This includes the subject
vehicle. Parties have joined issues on that claim. Thus, there is a dispute
about ownership of the vehicle and same has to be determined by the Court in
the trial. Sale of the vehicle in execution of the maintenance order will
preempt the Court’s decision relating to ownership of the vehicle. It will mean
that the Court without hearing evidence can determine ownership of the vehicle
and therein lies the defect of the instant execution process. In the interest
of substantial justice, the execution process must be set aside.<o:p></o:p>Consequently, I set aside the execution process and
order that vehicle with registration number WR 273- 14 be released forthwith.<o:p></o:p>On the application for leave to pay the maintenance
arrears by installment, I order that a monthly installment payment of GH¢
500.00 shall be paid by the Respondent/Applicant until the arrears is fully
liquidated. This payment must be made in addition to the monthly payment of GH ¢400.00
ordered by the Court. <o:p></o:p>