OPANIN KWAKU DUAH AND YAW NKRUMAH MENSAH vs. PETER KOFI OKYERE, KWADWO OKYERE AND ABENA KONADU [2023]DLSC15004

OPANIN KWAKU DUAH AND YAW NKRUMAH MENSAH vs. PETER KOFI OKYERE, KWADWO OKYERE A... [2023]DLSC15004

Date	2023-01-18
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL NO. J4/41/2021
Citation No.	[2023]DLSC15004

PROF. KOTEY JSC (PRESIDING)

OWUSU (MS.) JSC

AMADU JSC

PROF. MENSA-BONSU (MRS.) JSC

KULENDI JSC

OBENG-MANU ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS/APPELLANTS.

JOHN BREFO ESQ. FOR THE DEFENDANTS/RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS.

[2023]DLSC15004
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >OPANIN KWAKU DUAH AND YAW NKRUMAH MENSAH&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;(PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS/ APPELLANTS)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p><a name="_heading=h.gjdgxs"></a>PETER KOFI OKYERE,
KWADWO OKYERE AND ABENA KONADU&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (DEFENDANTS/RESPONDENTS/ RESPONDENTS) <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. J4/41/2021&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;&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:
18TH&nbsp;JANUARY 2023&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL <o:p></o:p>OBENG-MANU
ESQ. FOR THE PLAINTIFFS/APPELLANTS/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;">

JOHN
BREFO ESQ. FOR THE DEFENDANTS/RESPONDENTS/RESPONDENTS.<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>PROF. KOTEY JSC (PRESIDING), OWUSU (MS.) JSC, AMADU JSC,
PROF. MENSA-BONSU (MRS.) JSC, KULENDI JSC<o:p></o:p><div style="border-top-width: 1.5pt; border-top-color: black; border-left: none; border-bottom-width: 1.5pt; border-bottom-color: black; border-right: none; padding: 1pt 0cm;">

JUDGMENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>&nbsp;AMADU JSC:-<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;INTRODUCTION:<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
8.0pt;margin-left:36.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;text-indent:
-36.0pt;line-height:150%;mso-list:l14 level1 lfo12">(1)<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The parties to this appeal
are all members of the Ekuona Family of Ntonso, Ashanti. The dispute between
them pertains to the ownership of three properties-House No.KO.60, Ashanti New
Town, Kumasi; House No.019, Block 8, Ashanti New Town, Kumasi and a Cocoa Farm
at Abrewapomaah.<o:p></o:p><p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
8.0pt;margin-left:36.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;text-indent:
-36.0pt;line-height:150%;mso-list:l14 level1 lfo12">(2)<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
While the Appellants claim
that the aforementioned properties are family properties belonging to the
Ekuona Family of Ntonso, the Respondents contend that, the properties are the
personally acquired properties of their deceased father, Akwasi Okyere. <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
8.0pt;margin-left:36.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;text-indent:
-36.0pt;line-height:150%;mso-list:l14 level1 lfo12">(3)<span style="font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Fortified by their claims,
the Appellants contend that, being family properties, the Respondents’ deceased
father could not have devised same under his last will and testament dated 30th
January, 1995. Conversely, the Respondents maintain that, their late father had
the right to devise the properties which were personally acquired and owned by
him. <o:p></o:p>&nbsp;<p class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
8.0pt;margin-left:36.0pt;mso-add-space:auto;text-align:justify;text-indent:
-36.0pt;line-height:150%;mso-list:l14 level1 lfo12">