GABRIEL ANSAH YAW v. FRANCIS YAW FRIMPONG

JUDGMENT

MARIAMA OWUSU, J.A:

On 23-11-09, the High Court, Sunyani, dismissed the plaintiff’s claim as not proved. In his judgment, the trial High Court Judge held among other things as follows:

“The only claim the plaintiff could establish is the fact that he is called Gabriel Ansah Yaw. But is that sufficient reason for the Lands Commission to give the land to him on which another has built at considerable cost and on his own admission he never applied for and has no knowledge how it came about without more. That certainly cannot be the law. Titles to land are not decreed by coincidence of name or suspicion. It must be noted that both parties are the protégées of the Bishop.

From the evidence, he entrusted the defendant so much so that he did not divulge whatever he was doing to anybody else especially in relationship to setting up the plaintiff. He left everything in the care of the defendant to handle and after his death, defendant as a good and faithful servant handed over to plaintiff the Penkwasi house that obviously plaintiff had no idea about.

If the Bishop can trust the defendant to such an extent, I cannot find any fault whatsoever with his account of his stewardship. Defendant strikes me as a man of integrity. He is a gentleman and perhaps trust is what we all in this case have to observe lest perhaps we open a can of worms. In the premises, the answer to the question whether or not the late Bishop Owusu asked defendant to take care of the building Plot No. 23, Block D, Sector 6, with uncompleted building thereon for and on behalf of the plaintiff is negative.

Again, the answer to the question whether building plot No. 23, Block D, Sector 6, South Ridge Central, Sunyani with uncompleted house thereon belongs to the plaintiff is no.

The plaintiff having failed to prove title to the land in dispute judgment is hereby entered in favour of the defendant.

Costs of GH¢2,000 in favour of the defendant against the plaintiff.”

Dissatisfied with the decision of the court, the plaintiff filed the instant appeal.

The grounds of appeal are:

a. That the judgment is against the weight of evidence.

b. That other grounds of appeal will be filed upon the receipt of the record of appeal.

The relief sought from this court:

“A reversal of the judgment of the High Court, Sunyani dated 23-11-2009.”

The facts giving rise to this appeal are as follows:

The plaintiff in his case issued a writ of summons against the defendant claiming the following reliefs