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Citation
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Judgment date
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| February 2025 |
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State agents’ killing found arbitrary; investigation ineffective; reparations and further prosecution ordered.
Human rights — Right to life (Article 4, African Charter) — Arbitrary deprivation by State agents; State duty to investigate — Effectiveness and publication of inquiry reports; Fair hearing (Article 7) — undue delay by national human rights mechanisms; Admissibility — victim/indirect victim status and evidentiary proof of familial relationship; Reparations — compensation and investigation/prosecution orders.
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28 February 2025 |
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Defendants ordered to refund Plaintiff for land purchase and litigation costs due to loss of disputed farmland.
Land law – Acquisition of land – Misrepresentation in sale – Loss of possession due to adverse claim – Support in legal disputes
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28 February 2025 |
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Court upheld ADR Consent Judgment, dismissing property inheritance dispute on unchallenged grounds and awarded costs to Plaintiff.
Property Law - Inheritance - Family property - Validity of Wills - Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) - Consent Judgment enforcement
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28 February 2025 |
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Plaintiff failed to prove lease renewal; tenancy held to have expired in 2005 and claim dismissed, costs awarded to defendant.
Land law – lease renewal – burden of proof on party alleging extension; proposal letter vs executed lease; credibility of witness evidence and material inconsistencies; failure to call material witnesses – adverse inference; equitable leasehold interest; owner’s right to renovate/demolish with permit.
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28 February 2025 |
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Court rejects application to unfreeze account, citing unpaid judgment debts and emphasizing substantive justice.
Civil Procedure - enforcement of judgment - interpretation of judgment obligations - substantive justice over procedural technicalities.
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28 February 2025 |
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The court convicted the accused of threat of death, finding prosecution evidence credible beyond reasonable doubt.
Criminal Law – threat of death – burden of proof – standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt – assessing credibility of evidence
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28 February 2025 |
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The accused was convicted of causing harm after failing to prove his accidental stabbing defense was credible.
Criminal Law – Causing harm – Intentional and unlawful stabbing – Evaluation of defense and justification – Conviction based on credible prosecution evidence.
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28 February 2025 |
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The accused's failure to cross-examine witnesses and defense admission led to his conviction for stealing.
Criminal Law – Stealing – Proof beyond reasonable doubt – Admission of guilt by failure to cross-examine and defense admission as confession.
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28 February 2025 |
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Court reopened pleadings, accepted additional electoral submissions, and admitted RFK and IHRDA as amici curiae.
Procedure – Reopening pleadings under Rule 46(3); Court’s inherent powers and Rule 90; electoral rights litigation; admission of amici curiae (RFK, IHRDA); service and timetable for additional submissions.
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28 February 2025 |
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The defendant's license to use family land for religious activities doesn't confer ownership or justify further encroachment.
Family Land – Nature of Land Grant – License vs. Gift – Unlawful Occupation – Perpetual Injunction
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28 February 2025 |
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Documentary evidence and long possession supported respondents' title; applicant's land claim dismissed.
Land law – title dispute and counterclaim; possession and presumption of title; caretaker/landlord–tenant relationship; documentary evidence (site plan, receipts) outweighing conflicting oral testimony; burden of proof in claims and counterclaims.
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27 February 2025 |
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The court ruled a private loan agreement, not regulated by financial institution laws, must refund unconscionable interest.
Contract Law – Friendly loan agreement – Recovery of outstanding principal and interest – Applicability of Non-Bank Financial Institutions Act.
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27 February 2025 |
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Accused convicted for causing harm after pleading guilty; sentenced to 2 years' prison with hard labor.
Criminal Law – Causing harm – Intentional and unlawful act – Conviction on guilty plea.
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27 February 2025 |
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Court orders equitable estate distribution among all six children of the deceased.
Succession law – Estate distribution – Beneficiaries' rights – Administrators' duties – Unlawful vesting of property.
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27 February 2025 |
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The court enforced specific performance of a valid land sale contract, despite Defendant's breach and attempted abrogation.
Contract Law – Sale of Land – Validity of Contract – Breach of Contract – Specific Performance
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27 February 2025 |
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26 February 2025 |
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Supreme Court upholds the grant of an interlocutory injunction to preserve land dispute status quo.
Land law - interlocutory injunction - prima facie right to land - exercise of judicial discretion.
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26 February 2025 |
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The court upheld original shareholding and directorship of a company after fraudulent posthumous alterations.
Company law - Shareholding in a limited liability company - Fraudulent alteration of shareholding and directorship records - Verification of original incorporation details.
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26 February 2025 |
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Police officer convicted for desertion due to absence without authorization for over 21 days.
Criminal Law – Desertion by police officer – Absence without leave – Requirement of proof of illness or mental incapacity as defense.
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26 February 2025 |
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Accused convicted of robbery based on direct witness identification and circumstantial evidence linking them to the crime.
Criminal Law – Robbery – Conspiracy to commit robbery – Identification of accused persons – Burden of proof
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26 February 2025 |
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Auditor-General's disallowance powers validated over private entities, requiring prior hearings to protect administrative justice.
Administrative law - Auditor-General's powers - Disallowance and Surcharge - Application to private persons - Right to administrative justice.
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26 February 2025 |
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The court granted a default judgment in favor of the plaintiff, given the defendant's failure to appear or defend.
Civil procedure – Default judgment – Plaintiff's claim in the absence of defendant – Burden of proof in unchallenged claims.
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26 February 2025 |
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Accused convicted of stealing gold detector, sentenced to ten years imprisonment after admitting use as loan collateral.
Criminal Law – Theft – Dishonest appropriation – Proof beyond reasonable doubt – Prior conviction impacting sentencing.
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25 February 2025 |
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3rd Defendant's properties cannot be used to satisfy the judgment debt for an unconsented mortgage securing an overdraft.
Civil Procedure - Mortgage Security - Breach of Mortgage Agreement - Execution Without Consent - Mortgages Act 1972 (NRCD 96)
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24 February 2025 |
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The Court found improper auctioning of Plaintiff's goods due to delayed FOB value review, awarding damages.
Customs and revenue - FOB value review - procedural fairness in hearing and response - compliance with auctioning and confiscation laws.
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21 February 2025 |
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A fresh interlocutory application based on new evidence may be allowed despite an earlier refusal; prior ruling set aside.
* Civil procedure – interlocutory injunction – fresh evidence after refusal – repeat application permissible where new material could change outcome.
* Procedural form v. substance – court may treat mislabelled motion as fresh application and amend heading to do substantial justice.
* Evidence – supplementary affidavit and photographs filed pre‑transfer admissible and material to interlocutory relief assessment.
* Injunction test – American Cyanamid criteria applied: serious issue, status quo/irreparable harm, balance of convenience.
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21 February 2025 |
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Accused acquitted of harm due to insufficient evidence and questionable identification by victims.
Criminal Law – Causing harm – Identification evidence – Burden of proof – Acquittal for insufficient evidence beyond reasonable doubt.
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21 February 2025 |
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Plaintiff's claim to land title dismissed due to insufficient evidence and inconsistent documentation.
Land Law – Title to Land – Burden of Proof – Identity of Land – Trespass – Evidence Admissibility
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20 February 2025 |
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Stay of proceedings in contempt case refused due to lack of exceptional circumstances and pending appeal's impact.
Contempt of court - Stay of proceedings pending appeal - Exceptional circumstances required - Enforcement of restitution order
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20 February 2025 |
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An unregistered company cannot be sued, and a third party cannot claim against a non-contracting employer.
Civil Procedure - Corporate Capacity - Unregistered company capacity to sue or be sued - Privity of Contract and liability of contracting parties.
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20 February 2025 |
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Marriage annulled due to non-compliance with legal formalities, unlicensed officiant, impacting property and children’s custody.
Family Law – Annulment of marriage – Impact of solemnization by unlicensed officiant – Valid marriage requirements
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19 February 2025 |
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The accused were acquitted for acting in self-defense in an altercation provoked by the complainant.
Criminal law – Causing harm – Self-defense and burden of proof in criminal assault cases
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19 February 2025 |
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The 3rd accused was convicted for dishonestly receiving a stolen motorbike, failures of proof against the others.
Criminal Law – Dishonestly receiving – Burden of proof – Credibility of testimony – Conviction of accused.
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19 February 2025 |
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Court adopted parties' settlement: respondent to pay GH¢6,100 by 31 March 2025 or plaintiff takes respondent's corn mill.
* Civil procedure – Consent judgment – Court adopts and enters parties' settlement filed in registry as consent judgment.
* Debt recovery – Agreed repayment terms and interest added to principal (GH¢5,000 + GH¢1,100 = GH¢6,100).
* Security/Remedy on default – Agreement that court shall effect transfer/possession of defendant's corn mill to creditor to recoup debt until paid.
* Enforcement – Settlement given effect by court order with a specified payment deadline (31 March 2025).
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18 February 2025 |
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18 February 2025 |
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Court adopted a customarily mediated settlement regarding derogatory comments as a consent judgment.
Defamation - customarily mediated settlements - derogatory comments - enforcement of customary awards
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18 February 2025 |
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Respondents found in contempt for property actions despite pending injunction application; cautioned and discharged.
Contempt of court - pending injunction - property dispute - execution of judgment - notification and service requirements
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18 February 2025 |
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Plaintiff's application for discontinuance granted; Plaintiff barred from fresh action; costs awarded to Defendant.
Civil procedure – Discontinuance of application – Costs awarded – No fresh action allowed
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17 February 2025 |
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17 February 2025 |
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The court acquits accused of stealing due to insufficient circumstantial evidence and lack of corroborative proof.
Criminal Law – Stealing – Circumstantial evidence – Burden of proof – Reasonable doubt
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17 February 2025 |
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Accused acquitted due to prosecution's failure to establish a prima facie case on threat of harm.
Criminal Law – Threat of harm – Insufficient evidence to establish prima facie case – Accused acquitted and discharged.
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17 February 2025 |
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17 February 2025 |
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Court dismissed claims against the Electoral Commission's voter registration process, emphasizing pragmatic balance over idealistic demands.
Electoral Law – Scope of voter registration – Interpretation of Articles 42 and 45 of the Constitution – Administrative discretion of the Electoral Commission.
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16 February 2025 |
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ECOWAS Court lacks jurisdiction to review domestic court decisions; property disputes framed as appeals are inadmissible.
Jurisdiction — Human rights jurisdiction under Article 9(4) of the Supplementary Protocol; Property rights — allegations framed as challenge to national court judgments; Admissibility — ECOWAS Court not an appellate or cassation forum for domestic judicial decisions; Costs — unsuccessful applicant ordered to bear costs.
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14 February 2025 |
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Representative human-rights claim dismissed as inadmissible for lack of mandate and proof of victim status, despite Court's jurisdiction.
Human rights – Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly – Jurisdiction of ECOWAS Court – Admissibility – Representative actions – Requirement to demonstrate victim status or provide mandate/authorization from victims – Failure to prove mandate renders representative application inadmissible.
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14 February 2025 |
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Court had jurisdiction but dismissed public-interest suit for failing to identify envisaged victims; foreign NGO lacked capacity.
Human rights – Public interest litigation (actio popularis) – Locus standi for NGOs – Capacity of foreign-registered NGO – Admissibility requires rights to be public, reliefs for public benefit, and victims capable of being envisaged – Jurisdiction under Article 9(4) Supplementary Protocol.
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14 February 2025 |
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14 February 2025 |
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ECOWAS sanctions on Mali were lawful; Court has jurisdiction but claimant cannot recover damages for lawful Community acts.
• Jurisdiction – Article 9(1)(g) Supplementary Protocol – actions for damages against Community institutions.
• Procedure – default judgment under Article 90 of the Rules; admissibility and formalities.
• Substantive law – lawfulness of ECOWAS sanctions (Revised Treaty Art.77(3); Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance; Mechanism for Conflict Prevention).
• Liability – no liability for damages arising from lawful acts of a Community institution.
• Human-rights claims – Article 9(4) inapplicable against Community institutions in absence of appropriate treaty basis.
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14 February 2025 |
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Applicant's human-rights claims dismissed for lack of evidence attributing violations to the State; application admissible.
Human rights jurisdiction; admissibility of individual application; non-justiciability of purely national constitutional claims before the ECOWAS Court; State responsibility requires attribution of acts to the State; insufficient evidence and lack of attribution leads to dismissal of ACHPR-based claims; no reparations or injunctions awarded.
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13 February 2025 |
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The court dissolved a customary marriage and ordered the return of dowry, dismissing additional claims for damages.
Family Law - Divorce - Customary Marriage Dissolution.
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13 February 2025 |
