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NANA HYEAMAN II v. OSEI AND OTHERS

April 6, 1981

HIGH COURT

GHANA

CORAM

  • TWUMASI J

Areas of Law

  • Property and Real Estate Law
  • Administrative Law
  • Civil Procedure

AI Generated Summary

This judgment by Twumasi J. resolves a preliminary objection to the capacity of the divisional chief of Gwira Banso to sue for cancellation and setting aside of a timber lease affecting his stool land. Defendants argued that section 16 of the Concessions Act, 1962 (Act 124), which vests relevant stool lands in the President “in trust for the stools concerned,” meant only the President could institute proceedings. The court undertook a purpose-oriented construction of Act 124 in pari materia with the Administration of Lands Act, 1962 (Act 123), as well as earlier statutes and case law. It concluded that “in trust” denotes trusteeship running alongside, rather than displacing, the stools’ allodial ownership and litigation rights. Section 8 of Act 123, allowing stool grants subject to ministerial concurrence, and authorities such as Ofori Attah II v. Mensah and Frimpong v. Nana Asare Obeng II, confirmed that occupants of stools may litigate. The preliminary objection was overruled and costs of ¢300 were awarded.

JUDGEMENT