JACOB JARCHIE KANKAM &EMMANUEL JARCHIE OWUSU vs. MR. CUDJOE [2021]DLSC11729

Date	2021-05-17
Suit No.	SUIT NO.C11/12/2020
Citation No.	[2021]DLSC11729

HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE FRANCIS OBIRI

ELVIS OFORI ASANTE FOR THE PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS

NENE AHUMA KORDA FOR THE DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT

[2021]DLSC11729
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >JACOB JARCHIE KANKAM &amp;EMMANUEL JARCHIE OWUSU<o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>MR. CUDJOE<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>[HIGH 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;">

</div>COUNSEL&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>COUNSEL<o:p></o:p>ELVIS
OFORI ASANTE FOR THE PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS<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;">

NENE AHUMA KORDA FOR THE
DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM<o:p></o:p>HIS
LORDSHIP JUSTICE FRANCIS OBIRI<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;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;The suit which has resulted
in this appeal was initiated by the Plaintiffs/Appellants (hereinafter called
the Appellants). The Appellants filed their writ of summons before the District
Court, Kwaso on 23rd December 2016 for the following reliefs.<o:p></o:p>(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A declaration that the plaintiffs are the joint owners of
plot numbers 2, 3, 5, 7 and 13 all at block ‘C’ at Deduako near Donaso in Ejisu
Juaben.<o:p></o:p>(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A declaration that the defendant store and wall erected on a
portion of plot number 13 block ‘C’ being the plaintiffs’ property is unlawful
and trespassory and he must be ordered by the court to remove the said
storeroom and wall from the plaintiffs’ property.<o:p></o:p>(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An order for perpetual injunction to restrain the defendant
or any other person dealing with the property or claiming title through the
defendant from interfering with the plaintiffs’ occupation and use of their
property.<o:p></o:p>(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; General damages.<o:p></o:p>The Defendant/Respondent,
hereinafter called the Respondent filed his statement of defence and
counterclaimed for the following reliefs:<o:p></o:p>(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A declaration that the defendant is the owner of plot Number
15 block ‘D’ Donaso Deduako.<o:p></o:p>(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An order restraining the plaintiffs, their privies, servants,
workmen and assigns or any person claiming title through them from trespassing
unto the said land.<o:p></o:p>(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; General damages.<o:p></o:p>(4)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cost<o:p></o:p>(5)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Any order as this Honourable court may deem fit.<o:p></o:p>At the conclusion of the
trial, the court presided over by her Worship Cynthia Nuekie Blagogee (Mrs)
entered judgment in favour of the Respondent in respect of his
counterclaim.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>The Appellants being
aggrieved with the judgment of the court has filed the present appeal against
the judgment on the following grounds:<o:p></o:p>(i)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the judgment was against the weight of evidence adduced
at the trial.<o:p></o:p>(ii)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the trial judge erred in refusing to grant the plaintiffs
claim of ownership to plots numbered 2, 3, 5, 7 and 13 all of block ‘C’ at
Deduako near Donaso in Ejisu-Juaben because same was not in issue.<o:p></o:p>(iii)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Additional grounds will be added upon receipt of the record of
proceedings.<o:p></o:p>The Appellants however, did
not file any additional grounds of appeal.&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p>During the hearing of the
case before the trial court, the 1st Appellant testified on his behalf and on
behalf of the 2nd Appellant.&nbsp; He was
cross-examined by counsel for the Respondent.&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p>On the part of the
Respondent, he testified in evidence and called one witness.&nbsp; And as I have stated earlier, the trial judge
gave her judgment which can be found at page 80 of the Record of Appeal (ROA)
against the Appellants which has triggered this appeal.<o:p></o:p>The Appellants have prayed
in their notice of appeal for the judgment of the District Court, Kwaso dated,
5th day of December 2019 to be overturned.&nbsp;
<o:p></o:p>It is the law that an appeal
is by way of rehearing.&nbsp; This means, the
appellate court is to review the entire Record of Appeal, by taking into
consideration the totality of the evidence on record, both oral and
documentary, to satisfy itself that on the preponderance of probabilities, the
conclusion by the trial court is reasonable or supported by the evidence on
record.<o:p></o:p>