DORIS BELINDA ARKROFUL VRS MR. PETER AGYARE & ANOR
July 16, 2025
COURT OF APPEAL
GHANA
CORAM
- JUSTICE S. ROSETTA BERNASKO ESSAH (MRS.) J.A.(PRESIDING)
- JUSTICE JENNIFER A. DADZIE (MRS.) J.A.
- JUSTICE ALEXANDER OSEI TUTU (MR.) J.A.
July 16, 2025
COURT OF APPEAL
GHANA
CORAM
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The instant appeal was mounted by the Plaintiff as the Appellant against the Judgment of the High Court, Winneba, presided over by His Lordship Aboagye Tandoh J. (as he then was) dated 15th March 2023.
As per the indorsement on the Amended Writ of Summons,[1] the
Plaintiff claimed against the Defendants (Respondents) –
a. Declaration of title to a piece or parcel of land at Mbosaaedwedo/Apam measuring 2.30 acres.
b. Perpetual Injunction against the Defendants, their workmen, agents, howsoever described from interfering with the said land inconsistent with the Plaintiff’s development.
c. Recovery of Gh*₵6,500.00 being replacement cost of billboard, corner pillars and materials destroyed by the Defendants.*
d. Interest on the said amount at the prevailing commercial bank rate to the date of judgment.
e. General damages.
f. Solicitor’s cost for bringing the action.
The 2nd Defendant, upon successfully applying to join the matter in his Amended Statement of Defence counterclaimed against the
Plaintiff thus:
i. For a Declaration that the land as described in the Amended Statement of Defence is the property of Gomoa Akyemfo Stool Family as confirmed by the Court of Appeal Judgment dated 20th day of June, 2002 and particularly described in the Judgment Plan. ii. A Declaration that the said land was validly granted by the 2nd Defendant’s Stool.
iii. An Order for removal of all structures at the cost of the Plaintiff.
iv. Perpetual Injunction restraining the Plaintiff, her vendors, assigns, workmen and anyone claiming through them from interfering with the Defendant’s ownership, use and enjoyment of the land.
v. Damages for trespass. vi. Costs incidental to the suit.
The Plaintiff who sued per her lawful attorney, Samuel Kwesi Mensah, claims to be a member of the Apam Afrim Anona Royal family. She was the first family member to reduce the 2.30 acre land into occupation after clearing and depositing building materials on it in 1988. Her case was that she erected pillars and mounted a bill board with the inscription “LINDADOR HOTEL SITE” serving as notice of her ownership to the world.
She acquired her interest as a customary grant by way of occupation from her Efrim Anona family in May 1990 when she purchased same from the head of their
AI Generated Summary
This Court of Appeal decision, authored by Justice Alexander Osei Tutu with Justices S. Rosetta Bernasko Essah (Presiding) and Jennifer A. Dadzie concurring, arises from a land dispute at Mbosaaedwedo/Apam. Lindador, a member of the Apam Afrim Anona Royal family, took possession of a 2.30-acre parcel in 1988, erected pillars and a “LINDADOR HOTEL SITE” billboard, acquired a customary grant in 1990 with family consent, and registered a freehold (No. 1576/2005). The High Court, Winneba (Aboagye Tandoh J.), granted the Defendants’ counterclaim and dismissed Lindador’s claims, relying on a purported 2002 Court of Appeal “judgment plan” said to confirm Gomoa Akyemfo lands. On appeal, the panel found the trial judge wrongly resolved an issue struck off at directions, misapplied res judicata against a non-party, and shifted burdens of proof. A court-appointed surveyor could not link the Defendants’ plan to any appellate judgment and placed the disputed area within Apam lands. Exhibit 5 fixed the 1st Defendant’s lease at 20 September 2016, making oral claims of earlier acquisition inadmissible. The Court set aside the High Court’s judgment, granted declaration and injunction to Lindador, and awarded Gh₵10,000 in general/nominal damages plus Gh₵20,000 costs.