KOFI SARFO VS VIVIAN ODOOM
May 30, 2024
HIGH COURT
GHANA
CORAM
- HIS LORDSHIP ALEXANDER OSEI TUTU (J.)
Areas of Law
- Civil Procedure
- Property and Real Estate Law
May 30, 2024
HIGH COURT
GHANA
CORAM
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In an Application by the Defendant to dismiss the suit on the grounds of res judicata, the Court differently constituted opined that a Composite Plan for a super imposition should be drawn up.
The Order for the preparation of a Composite Plan was poignantly carried out.
The Report was subjected to cross-examination of the Surveyor pursuant to an Application in accordance with Order 26 (4) of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2004 (C. I. 47). Per the outcome of the survey conducted, both the Plaintiff and the Defendant claimed the same land.
However, while the land of the Plaintiff on his Site Plan attached to the Land Certificate and what was shown on the ground tallied, that of the Defendant did not tally.
The Defendant again did not attach his Judgment plan.
It was also gleaned from the proceedings that the acreage of the Defendant’s land varied from his survey instructions and the amended one.
By the failure of the Defendant to produce the Judgment plan to enable the Court know whether it is the very land the Plaintiff is claiming in this Court, and the fact that the Surveyor observed different dimensions for the Defendant’s land, it becomes difficult for the Court to reason with the Defendant that the land in the earlier suit is the basis for which he is seeking to dismiss the instant suit is in respect of the same.
Accordingly, I dismiss the Motion seeking to dismiss the present action.
(SGD. ) H/L ALEXANDER OSEI TUTU JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT.
AI Generated Summary
At the Ghana High Court, His Lordship Alexander Osei Tutu considered a defense application seeking dismissal of a pending land suit on res judicata grounds. A previously differently constituted court had ordered preparation of a composite plan for superimposition, and the directive was carried out. The surveyors report, tested by cross-examination pursuant to Order 26(4) of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2004 (C.I. 47), confirmed both litigants are laying claim to the same parcel. Crucially, the plaintiffs site plan, attached to his Land Certificate, matched the situation on the ground, but the defendants did not. The defendant also failed to attach the judgment plan from the earlier case he relies on, and the acreage of his land varied between survey instructions and an amended version. Given these deficiencies, the court held that identity of subject matter was not proven and dismissed the motion to terminate the action.