GERMAN EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY COMPANY vs. MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT & RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MLGRD) AND THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND MINISTER FOR JUSTICE [2023]DLHC16317

GERMAN EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY COMPANY vs. MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT & RURAL... [2023]DLHC16317

Date	2023-09-05
Suit No.	SUIT NO. CM/BDC/0539/2020
Citation No.	[2023]DLHC16317

HIS LORDSHIP FRANCIS OBIRI ‘J’.

MOHAMMED ATTAH FOR THE PLAINTIFF/APPLICANT

[2023]DLHC16317
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >GERMAN
EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY COMPANY <o:p></o:p>(PLAINTIFF)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>MINISTRY OF
LOCAL GOVERNMENT &amp; RURAL DEVELOPMENT (MLGRD) AND THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND
MINISTER FOR JUSTICE<o:p></o:p>(DEFENDANTS)<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;">

SUIT
NO. CM/BDC/0539/2020&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: 5TH&nbsp; SEPTEMBER
2023<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL<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>CORAM<o:p></o:p>HIS LORDSHIP FRANCIS OBIRI ‘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;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">RULING<o:p></o:p>

</div>I have listened to the
submission for the grant of the application filed by the Plaintiff/Judgment
Creditor /Applicant (hereinafter called the Applicant) on 31st
August, 2023.<o:p></o:p>I have read the documents
filed in this application. The Applicant is praying the court to make an order
directed at Bank of Ghana as a garnishee bank in respect of the accounts of Ministry
of Local Government and Rural Development and District Assembly Common Fund held
at Bank of Ghana.<o:p></o:p>Under Order 47 (1) of
C.I.47, it is the account of a Judgment Debtor which can be attached in respect
of garnishee proceedings. <o:p></o:p>In this case, the District
Assembly Common Fund is not a party in the case.&nbsp; The District Assembly Common Fund is
therefore not a judgment debtor in the case.&nbsp;
The Judgment Debtor in the case as per the writ of summons is the
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. There is no relation of
Judgment Debtor and Creditor between District Assembly Common Fund and the
Judgment Creditor.<o:p></o:p>It would therefore be against
the rules of natural justice, equity and good conscience to make an order of
garnishee nisi in respect of the account of District Assembly Common Fund.<o:p></o:p>See: STATE CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION v HASNAW CO. LTD. AND ANOTHER
[2001-2002] 2 GLR 141 CA <o:p></o:p>Even though this is a one-sided
application, however, the Court will take solace in the opinion of the Supreme
Court in the case of AMIDU (NO. 1) v
ATTORNEY-GENERAL, WATERVILLE HOLDING BVI CO. LTD &amp; WOYOME [2013-2014] 1
SCGLR 112. The Court opined in that case, that a court is not to grant an
application hook, line and sinker because it is one-sided.&nbsp; The court must scrutinise the application to
see whether its jurisdiction has been properly invoked.<o:p></o:p>A court is also not bound
by any legal misconception by parties or their counsel.<o:p></o:p>See: GIHOC REFRIGERATION AND HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS LTD (NO.1) v HANNA ASSI
(NO.1) [2007-2008] 1 SCGLR 1<o:p></o:p>From the above discussion,
the court will not have any jurisdiction to make any order in respect of the
account of District Assembly Common Fund which is held by Bank of Ghana. If the
Court does that; it would mean that the court is behaving like an octopus stretching
its eight tentacles to grab jurisdiction where it does not have.<o:p></o:p>Jurisdiction has been defined as the authority
which a court has to decide matters which are litigated before it, or to take
cognizance of matters presented before it in a formal way for its
decision.&nbsp; The limits of this authority
are imposed by statute, charter or commission under which the Court is
constituted, and may be extended or restricted by like means.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>See: YEBOAH v MENSAH [1997-1998] 2 GLR 245 SC<o:p></o:p>EDUSEI
(NO.1) v ATTORNEY-GENERAL [1996-97] SCGLR 1<o:p></o:p>EDUSEI
(NO.2) v ATTORNEY-GENERAL [1998-99] SCGLR 753<o:p></o:p>Therefore, jurisdiction is determined by the real
issues between the parties.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>See: ANIN v
ABABIO AND OTHERS [1973] 1 GLR 509<o:p></o:p>