WILLIAM AMUNA VS REHOBOTH PROPERTIES LTD
2024
HIGH COURT
GHANA
CORAM
- HIS LORDSHIP JUSTICE PATRICK BAAYEH (J)
Areas of Law
- Contract Law
- Civil Procedure
- Evidence Law
2024
HIGH COURT
GHANA
CORAM
AI Generated Summary
The Plaintiff, a retired civil servant, sued the Defendant, an estate development company, for failing to deliver a house as per their contract signed in 2015. Despite full payment by the Plaintiff, the Defendant delayed delivery, citing unforeseen topographical challenges. The Defendant claimed new timelines were agreed upon, which the Plaintiff denied. The court found no evidence of new timelines and ruled that the Defendant breached the contract. The Plaintiff was awarded a refund of $195,000 with interest and damages.
The Plaintiff mounted this action against the Defendant on 6th February, 2020 claiming the reliefs endorsed on the writ of summons as; i. Delivery of the three-bedroom house with all rooms ensuite with an outer house on plot No. 107 measuring seventy by seventy- five feet (70 x 75 ft)situate at Rehoboth Hills, Oyarifa, Accra.
In the alternative the prevailing market value of a comparable house at the same location.
Lost profits in the nature of accrued or lost rents from 1st January, 2018 to the final date of payment.
Damages for breach of contract v. Cost including legal fees The Defendant upon entering appearance also filed it Defence.
The case of the Plaintiff is rather simple and does not admit of any complicities.
The Plaintiff is a retired civil servant whiles the Defendant and an estate development company registered under the laws of Ghana and is engaged in the business of developing and selling of real estate properties.
Plaintiff avers that sometime in 2015, he entered into a contract with the Defendant for the purchase of a three-bedroom basement house with all the rooms ensuite with an outer house on plot number 107 measuring 70 foot by 75 foot at Rehoboth Hills, Oyarifa, Accra.
The parties agreed on a purchase price of USD 195, 000. 00. Plaintiff was required under the contract to make an initial deposit of USD 15, 000. 00 at the execution of the contract and to pay the difference ten tranches which Plaintiff duly paid and Defendant acknowledged receipts of all payments.
It is Plaintiff’s case that he made the Defendant aware that he needed the house urgently because he due to retire and needed the house as his dwelling house.
It is Plaintiff’s case that three years after he fully paid for the house, the Defendant has failed or refused to deliver the house to him.
That several demands made on the Defendant to meet it obligation under the contract made yielded no results of the Defendants failure to deliver the house to him he has been compelled to find attractive accommodation upon his retirement from the Public Service since 2017 at a cost which could have been avoided if Defendant had delivered on its promise.
That the failure of the Defendant to deliver that house to him has cost him a lot in terms of payments in the nature of accrued rent.
In its Defence the Defendant admits virtually the entire case of the Plaintiff except to say that; “ though the construction of the house to delayed a little due to some unforeseen topographi