Commonwealth Africa: Foreign Law in Commonwealth African Courts

Oppong, Richard Frimpong

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-56574-3_30

Richard Frimpong Oppong⁴

Part of the book series: Ius Comparatum - Global Studies in Comparative Law ((GSCL,volume 26))

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Abstract

This paper examines how foreign law is treated in the courts of Commonwealth African countries within the context of private international law. It examines the treatment of foreign law as a fact and the attendant consequences. The paper also examines the important issue of access to legal information and how that can be assessed.

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Notes

1.
These are: Botswana, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe (hereafter, the countries under study). Cameroon, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles are also part of the Commonwealth but are not examined in this paper. Gambia and Zimbabwe are currently not members of the Commonwealth but are included in this study.
2.
Richard Frimpong Oppong, Private International Law in Commonwealth Africa (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2013) at 23–26.
3.
Mtui v. Mtui 2000 (1) BLR 406 at 413; Garmroudi v. The State 1987 BLR 409. See generally Evidence (Commonwealth Statutes) Act 1923; Evidence (Commonwealth and Foreign Acts of State and Judgments) Act 1910.
4.
Point Trading (Pty) Ltd. v. The Attorney General 2004 (1) BLR 75.
5.
Commonwealth and Foreign Law Ascertainment Act 1910.
6.
Evidence Act 1994, ss. 57 and 58.
7.
Evidence Act 1974, s. 1(2).
8.
Customary international law is part of Ghanaian law. See Republic v. High Court, Ex Parte Attorney General, NML Capital Ltd., Civil Motion No.J5/10/2013 (Supreme Court of Ghana, 2013). Accordingly, one need not prove customary international law with expert evidence.
9.
Davis v. Randall [1962] 1 GLR 1; In re Canfor (Deceased); Canfor v. Kpodo [1968] GLR 177; Evidence Act 1974, s. 1(2).
10.
Evidence Act 1974, s. 1(2).
11.
Godka Group of Companies v. PS International Ltd. [1999–2000] 1 GLR 409.
12.
Huzaifeh v. Saba [1939] 5 WACA 181.
13.
Godka Group of Companies v. PS International Ltd. [1999–2000] 1 GLR 409.
14.
Khoury v. Khoury [1958] 3 WALR 52.
15.
Godka Group of Companies v. PS International Ltd. [1999–2000] 1 GLR 409.
16.
Evidence Act 1974, s. 40; Moubarak v. Holland West Afrika Lijn [1953] 14 WACA 262; Godka Group of Companies v. PS International Ltd. [1999–2000] 1 GLR 409.
17.
Evidence Act 1963, s. 48.
18.
Probate and Administration Rules 1981, s. 30.
19.
Serobanyane v. Serobanyane, CIV\APN\290\91 (High Court, Lesotho, 1991).
20.
Serobanyane v. Serobanyane, CIV\APN\290\91 (High Court, Lesotho, 1991); Weng v. Weng, CIV/T/351/99 (High Court, Lesotho, 1999); Ndlovu v. Employment Bureau of Africa Ltd., CIV/APN/142/98 (High Court, Lesotho, 2002); Mutua v. Matholoane, CIV/APN/183/94 High Court, Lesotho, 1994).
21.
Mohapi v. Motleleng [1985–1989] LAC 316.
22.
Commissioner for Taxes v. A Ltd. [1973–1974] 7 MLR 211.
23.
Kamcaca v. Nkhota [1966–1968] ALR Mal. 509 at 516.
24.
Kamcaca v. Nkhota (No. 2) [1966–1968] ALR Mal. 518 at 523.
25.
In the Estate of Barretta [1984–1986] 11 MLR 110.
26.
Gouveia v. Gouveia [1923–1960] ALR Mal. 239 at 241.
27.
Maseko v. Maseko [1973–1974] 7 MLR 310.
28.
Westdeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (Landesbausparkasse) v. Horsch 1992 NR 313 at 314, 1993 (2) SA 342 at 344.
29.
Dowles Manor Properties Ltd. v. Bank of Namibia 2005 NR 59.
30.
MFV Kapitan Solyanik Ukrainian-Cyprus Insurance Co. v. Namack International (Pty) Ltd. 1999 (2) SA 926, 1997 NR 200.
31.
Ibid.
32.
Dorbly Vehicle Trading & Finance Company (Pty) Ltd. v. Nekwaya, Case No. A 191.98 (High Court, Namibia, 1998).
33.
Murmansk State Steamship Line v. Kano Oil Millers Ltd. [1974] (3) ALR Comm. 192; Ogunro v. Ogedengbe [1960] 5 FSC 137.
34.
Evidence Act 2011, s. 122(2), Peenok Ltd. v. Hotel Presidential Ltd. (1982) 12 SC 1; Benson v. Ashiru [1967] 1 All NLR 184.
35.
Evidence Act 2011 ss. 68 and 69; Melwani v. Chanhira Corporation [1995] 6 NWLR 438; Bhojwani v. Bhojwani [1995] 7 NWLR 349.
36.
Ajami v. The Comptroller of Customs (1952–1955) 14 WACA 34; Ajami v. The Comptroller of Customs (1952–1955) 14 WACA 37.
37.
Murmansk State Steamship Line v. Kano Oil Millers Ltd. 1974 (3) ALR Comm. 192.
38.
Ocean Commodities Inc. v. Standard Bank of SA Ltd. 1978 (2) SA 367 at 376; Standard Bank of SA Ltd. v. Ocean Commodities Inc. 1980 (2) SA 175 at 181 and 183.
39.
Schlesinger v. Commissioner of Inland Revenue 1964 (3) SA 389 at 396; Atlantic Harvesters of Namibia (Pty) Ltd. v. Unterweser Reederei Gmbh of Bremen 1986 (4) SA 865. See generally, CF Forsyth, Private International Law – The Modern Roman-Dutch Law Including the Jurisdiction of the High Courts, 5th ed (Cape Town: Juta and Company Ltd., 2012) at 107–128.
40.
Burchell v. Anglin 2010 (3) SA 48 at 54–59.
41.
Skilya Property Investments (Pty) Ltd. v. Lloyds of London Underwriting 2002 (3) SA 765.
42.
Anderson v. The Master 1949 (4) SA 660.
43.
Rogaly v. General Imports (Pty) Ltd. 1948 (1) SA 1216; Harnischfeger Corporation v. Appleton 1993 (4) SA 479; Estate H v. Estate H 1952 (4) SA 168; Bank of Lisbon v. Optichem Kunsmis (Edms) Bpk 1970 (1) SA 447; Deutsche Bank v. Moser 1999 (4) SA 216.
44.
Bank of Lisbon v. Optichem Kunsmis (Edms) Bpk 1970 (1) SA 447; Rogaly v. General Imports (Pty) Ltd. 1948 (1) SA 1216.
45.
ITT Continental Baking Co. v. Registrar of Trade Marks 1980 (2) SA 127.
46.
Continental Illinois National Bank v. Greek Seamen’s Pension Fund 1989 (2) SA 515 at 544.
47.
Atlantic Harvesters of Namibia (Pty) Ltd. v. Unterweser Reederei Gmbh of Bremen 1986 (4) SA 865 at 874; Standard Bank of South Africa Ltd. v. Ocean Commodities Inc. 1983 (1) SA 276 at 294.
48.
Harnischfeger Corporation v. Appleton 1993 (4) SA 479; Hlophe v. Mahlalela 1998 (1) SA 449; B.S.C. Martin, ‘Judicial Notice of Foreign Law’ (1998) 31 Comparative and International Law Journal of Southern Africa 60; Bernard Martin, ‘The Ascertainment of Foreign Law by Means of Judicial Notice’ (1997) 8 Stellenbosch Law Review 377; A. J. Kerr, ‘Judicial Notice of Foreign and Customary Law’ (1994) 111 South African Law Journal 577.
49.
Harnischfeger Corporation v. Appleton 1993 (4) SA 479.
50.
Hassan v. Hassan 1998 (2) SA 589.
51.
Monokandilos v. Generale Des Carriers et Des Mines SA, Case No. 11261/2001 (High Court, South Africa, 2010).
52.
C Hoare & Co. v. Runewitsch 1997 (1) SA 338; Holz v. Harksen 1995 (3) SA 521.
53.
Bonham v. Master Hardware (Pty) Ltd., Civil Trial 294/08 (High Court, Swaziland, 2009); Southern Textiles (Pty) Ltd. v. Taga Investments, Civil Case No. 4223/2007 (High Court, Swaziland, 2009).
54.
Auto Garage Ltd. v. Motokov [1972] 1 ALR Comm. 17.
55.
Evidence Act 1967, s. 47(1).
56.
Land Officer v. The Motor Mart and Exchange [1953–1957] TLR 295.
57.
Evidence Act 1909, s. 43; Amrit Goyal v. Hari Chand Goyal, Misc.App.No.649 of 2001 (High Court, Uganda, 2003).
58.
F.L. Kaderbhai v. Shamsherali Zaver Virji, Civil Appeal No.10 of 2008 (Supreme Court, Uganda, 2010).
59.
[1980] ZR 175.
60.
Historically, the courts could take judicial notice of foreign law. See Grauman v. Pers 1970 (1) RLR 130 at 133 where the court took judicial notice of the South African Rules of Court.
61.
Walker v. Industrial Equity Ltd. 1995 (1) ZLR 87.
62.
G v. G 2003 (5) SA 396, 2002 (2) ZLR 408.
63.
Registrar-General of Citizenship v. Todd 2002 (2) ZLR 680. See also G & P Ltd. v. Commissioner of Taxes 1960 (4) SA 163 (the court interpreted U.K. tax legislation without expert evidence); Mandimika v. Mandimika 1997 (2) ZLR 352 (the court embarked on its own research on the nature of Ghanaian marriage).
64.
A finding or decision shall be taken to be reported or recorded in citable form only if it is reported or recorded in writing in a report, transcript or other document which, if it has been prepared in connection with legal proceedings in Zimbabwe, could be cited as an authority in legal proceedings in Zimbabwe.
65.
See also the Supreme Court of Somalia case of Adan Deria Gedi v. Sheikh Salim El Amoudi 1964 (1) ALR Comm. 385.
66.
Evidence Act 1974, s. 1(2).
67.
Trendtex Trading Corp. v. Central Bank of Nigeria [1977] 2 WLR 356 at 377; I. A. Hunter, ‘Proving Foreign and International Law in the Courts of England and Wales’ (1977–1978) 18 Virginia Journal of International Law 665.
68.
See e.g. Republic v. High Court (Comm. Div. Accra, Ex parte Attorney General, Civil Motion No J5/10/2013 (Supreme Court of Ghana, 20 June 2013).
69.
Nedermar Technology BV Ltd. v. Kenya Anti-corruption Commission [2008] KLR 476 at 499. But see Eagle Super Pack (Nigeria) Ltd. v. African Continental Bank Plc [2006] 19 NWLR 20 in which it was held that in order for the Uniform Customs Practice for Documentary Credits to be applicable, it must be incorporated in a contract.
70.
Commonwealth and Foreign Law Ascertainment Act 1910.
71.
See e.g. Lord Collins of Mapesbury et al. (eds), Dicey, Morris and Collins on the Conflict of Laws, 15th ed. (London: Sweet & Maxwell, 2012), para 9-025. But see Bank of Lisbon v. Optichem Kunsmis (Edms) Bpk. 1970 (1) SA 447 at 451.
72.
Civil Evidence Act 1992, s. 25(1).
73.
Ellison Khan, ‘What Happens in a Conflicts Case when the Governing Foreign Law is not proved?’ (1970) 87 South African Law Journal 145; Charles Wesley, ‘The Presumption that Foreign Law is the same as the Local Law: An Absolute Tradition Revised’ (1996) 37 Codicillus 36.
74.
Historically, this position had judicial support in South Africa. See Schlesinger v. Commissioner of Inland Revenue 1964 (3) SA 389 at 396.
75.
Fui Tsikata, ‘Proving Familiar Foreign Law’ (1987–1988) Review of Ghana Law 249; Ellison Khan, ‘Proving the Laws of our Friends and Neighbours’ (1965) 82 South African Law Journal 133.
76.
1960 (4) SA 163 at 168.
77.
[1985–1986] LAC 316 at 321–322.

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Faculty of Law, Thompson Rivers University, 900 McGill Road, Kamloops, BC, V2C 0C8, Canada
Richard Frimpong Oppong (Associate Professor)

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Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Yuko Nishitani

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Oppong, R.F. (2017). Commonwealth Africa: Foreign Law in Commonwealth African Courts. In: Nishitani, Y. (eds) Treatment of Foreign Law - Dynamics towards Convergence?. Ius Comparatum - Global Studies in Comparative Law, vol 26. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56574-3_30

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56574-3_30
Published: 06 July 2017
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
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