MRS THERESA BOAKYE AND FRANK ASIEDU BOAKYE vs. OPANIN KWAME ASIEDU [2021]DLSC11516

Date	2021-12-15
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J4/22/2021
Citation No.	[2021]DLSC11516

DOTSE (PRESIDING)

PWAMANG JSC

TORKORNOO (MRS.) JSC

AMADU JSC

KULENDI JSC

K. AMOAKO ADJEI ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT/RESPONDENT.

CHARLES TETTEY FOR THE DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS/RESPONDENTS.

[2021]DLSC11516
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MRS THERESA BOAKYE AND FRANK ASIEDU
BOAKYE<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS/RESPONDENTS/APPELLANTS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>OPANIN KWAME ASIEDU<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>[SUPREME COURT, ACCRA]<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;">

CIVIL APPEAL
NO. J4/22/2021&nbsp; &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: 15TH DECEMBER, 2021<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL<o:p></o:p>K. AMOAKO ADJEI ESQ. FOR
THE PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT/RESPONDENT.<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: 0cm 0cm 1pt;">

CHARLES TETTEY FOR THE DEFENDANTS/APPELLANTS/RESPONDENTS.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>DOTSE
(PRESIDING), PWAMANG JSC, TORKORNOO (MRS.) JSC, AMADU JSC, KULENDI JSC <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="text-align:center;line-height:150%;
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>&nbsp;TORKORNOO (MRS.) JSC:-<o:p></o:p>Background facts<o:p></o:p>The
plaintiff/appellant/respondent is the brother of one Kingsley Kwadwo Boakye
(deceased). The defendants/respondents/appellants are the widow and son of
Kingsley Kwadwo Boakye (hereinafter referred to as Kingsley Boakye). The
plaintiff sued in his capacity as brother and customary successor of Kingsley
Boakye. The subject matter of the dispute is six plots of land situated in
Abenase near Oda, with a house thereon numbered house No. J2, Abenase. <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The
parties are agreed regarding the location of the land, and the fact that the
house in issue was built by Kingsley Boakye from resources that none of his
mother's children contributed to. Beyond that, they disagree on who acquired
the land on which the house is built, and the nature of Kingsley Boakye's
interest in the house after he built it. <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;According to the Plaintiff/Respondent
(hereinafter referred to as Plaintiff), the land was allocated to his mother
Maame Yaa Anyanyan of Abenase (also known and referred to in this judgment as
MaameKyerewaa) by the Abenase Town Development Committee (hereafter referred to
as the TDC), in 1979, and that she made it clear at the time of obtaining the
land that she wanted six plots of land because she had twelve children.
Plaintiff states in his statement of claim that the 'said land remained the property of MaameKyerewaa to the notice of all',
and at the time that Kingsley Boakye 'decided
to construct a family house on the land in the lifetime of Maame Kyerewaa, he knew that it was land for his mother'.
(emphasis mine)<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;It is also
the position of Plaintiff in paragraph 15 of his statement of claim that
Kingsley Boakyeopenly stated that he was 'building
the house for his mother' and consequently named the building Kyerewaa
Villa. Following these positions, Plaintiff urged thateven though Kingsley
Boakyebuilt the house in dispute, he had only a life interest in the building,
and it was family property. He claimed for: <o:p></o:p>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A
declaration that House No. J2 popularly called Kyerewaa Villa, Abenase near Oda
is the property of the family of Maame Yaa Kyerewaa alias Maame Yaa Anyanyan
(deceased)<o:p></o:p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Damages for
trespass<o:p></o:p>3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Perpetual
injunction to restrain the defendants, their agents, representatives and all
privies from laying claim to the said house<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;The case of the Defendants/Appellants (Defendants) in their
Statement of Defence was that the six plots of land in Abenase numbered Plots
3, 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12 were purchased by Kingsley Boakyeat the time that one
Nana Meenue Anim 11 was the Chief of Abenase. He was issued with receipt number
003 for the money paid. Thereafter, house No J2Abenase, was put up jointly by
the Kingsley Boakye and his wife, the 1st defendant. Thus the house was the
personal property of Kingsley Boakye and his wife, and not family property. <o:p></o:p></main>