High Court civil suit

Stage by stage

1. 01

   File writ of summons and statement of claim

   Plaintiff / Applicant · C.I. 47 Order 2 r.3, Order 11 r.1 · day 0

   Writ endorsed with the reliefs sought, accompanied by the statement of claim. Confirm jurisdiction, capacity and that any pre-action requirement has been met.

   Time limit: Writ is valid for 12 months from issue (Order 2 r.6).

   Form: Writ of summons — C.I. 47 Form 1 — confirm the form number against the current print

   Authority: Republic v High Court, Accra; Ex parte Aryeetey [2003-2004] SCGLR 398

   Assemble: Writ of summons, Statement of claim, Filing fee receipt

   Official cost: Writ of summons — GH₵220.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 1, Pt. II (High Court) — commencement)

   Reliefs not properly endorsed, or the wrong plaintiff capacity pleaded.

2. 02

   Serve the writ on the defendant

   Plaintiff / Applicant · C.I. 47 Order 7; Order 8 for service outside the jurisdiction · day 7

   A writ is valid for 12 months. Service outside the jurisdiction requires leave under Order 8 before the writ is served.

   Time limit: Serve within the 12-month life of the writ; leave required before service abroad (Order 8).

   Authority: Barclays Bank v Ghana Cable Co [1998-99] SCGLR 1

   Assemble: Affidavit / proof of service

   Official cost: Service outside the jurisdiction — Assessed by the registry (C.I. 86 Sch. 2 — assessed by the registrar) · Service of process by bailiff (within jurisdiction) — GH₵100.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 2 — service and bailiff allowances)

   Letting the writ expire unserved without applying to renew it.

3. 03

   Entry of appearance

   Defendant / Respondent · C.I. 47 Order 9 r.1 — 8 days after service · day 15

   Defendant enters appearance within 8 days of service (longer where service was outside the jurisdiction). Failure opens the door to judgment in default.

   Time limit: 8 days after service (Order 9 r.1); longer where service was outside the jurisdiction.

   Form: Entry of appearance — C.I. 47 Order 9 — confirm the form number against the current print

   Assemble: Entry of appearance

   Official cost: Pleading (defence, reply, counterclaim) — GH₵90.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 1, Pt. II — subsequent pleadings) · Service outside the jurisdiction — Assessed by the registry (C.I. 86 Sch. 2 — assessed by the registrar)

4. 04

   Statement of defence (and any counterclaim)

   Defendant / Respondent · C.I. 47 Order 11 r.2 — 14 days after appearance · day 29

   Plead to every material allegation. Unpleaded matters cannot be led in evidence without amendment.

   Time limit: 14 days after entering appearance (Order 11 r.2).

   Authority: Hammond v Odoi [1982-83] GLR 1215 (pleadings define the issues)

   Assemble: Statement of defence, Counterclaim (if any)

   Official cost: Pleading (defence, reply, counterclaim) — GH₵90.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 1, Pt. II — subsequent pleadings)

   General denials that fail to traverse specific averments.

5. 05

   Reply / defence to counterclaim

   Plaintiff / Applicant · C.I. 47 Order 11 r.4 — 7 days after defence · day 36

   File only where new matter is raised. Pleadings close 7 days after the reply.

   Time limit: 7 days after service of the defence; pleadings close 7 days later (Order 11 r.4).

   Official cost: Pleading (defence, reply, counterclaim) — GH₵90.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 1, Pt. II — subsequent pleadings)

6. 06

   Application for directions

   Either party · C.I. 47 Order 32 · day 50

   Take out directions within one month of the close of pleadings: mode of trial, discovery, interrogatories, admissions and the timetable.

   Time limit: Within one month of the close of pleadings (Order 32 r.2).

   Form: Motion for directions with supporting affidavit — confirm the form number against the current print

   Assemble: Motion for directions, Supporting affidavit

   Official cost: Interlocutory motion with affidavit — GH₵120.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 1, Pt. II — motions) · Witness statement / bundle of documents — GH₵90.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 1, Pt. II — filings)

7. 07

   Discovery, inspection and admissions

   Either party · C.I. 47 Orders 21 and 22 · day 70

   Exchange lists of documents, inspect, serve notices to admit, and issue interrogatories where the pleadings leave gaps.

   Time limit: As directed on the application for directions (Orders 21 and 22).

   Assemble: List of documents, Notice to admit facts

   Official cost: Witness statement / bundle of documents — GH₵90.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 1, Pt. II — filings) · Pleading (defence, reply, counterclaim) — GH₵90.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 1, Pt. II — subsequent pleadings)

8. 08

   Pre-trial conference / case management

   Court · C.I. 47 Order 32 r.7; C.I. 133 case management directions · day 90

   Settlement is explored, issues are narrowed and a trial timetable is set. Attend with settlement instructions.

   Time limit: Case management conference set by the court; directions bind the trial timetable.

9. 09

   File witness statements and bundle

   Either party · C.I. 87 (amendment to C.I. 47) — witness statements in lieu of evidence in chief · day 110

   Witness statements stand as evidence in chief. Exhibits must be identified in the statement and included in the bundle.

   Time limit: Filed and exchanged before trial as directed (C.I. 87).

   Authority: Republic v High Court, Sunyani; Ex parte Collins Dauda (witness statements)

   Assemble: Witness statements, Exhibit bundle, Notice of witnesses

   Official cost: Witness statement / bundle of documents — GH₵90.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 1, Pt. II — filings)

   Exhibits referenced but not attached, so they cannot be tendered.

10. 10

    Trial: cross-examination and closing

    Court · C.I. 47 Order 36 · day 140

    Cross-examination on the filed statements, then written addresses as directed.

    Authority: Takoradi Flour Mills v Samir Faris [2005-2006] SCGLR 882 (standard of proof)

    Assemble: Written address

    Official cost: Writ of summons — GH₵220.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 1, Pt. II (High Court) — commencement)

11. 11

    Judgment, costs and entry

    Court · C.I. 47 Orders 41 and 74 · day 180

    Take judgment, settle costs, and enter and serve the judgment. Note that an appeal to the Court of Appeal runs 3 months from judgment.

    Time limit: Entry and taxation of costs follow judgment (Orders 41 and 74).

    Official cost: Service of process by bailiff (within jurisdiction) — GH₵100.00 (C.I. 86 Sch. 2 — service and bailiff allowances)

Official court costs are drawn from the C.I. 86 (2014) as amended — schedule v1 schedule and are recovered from the client at cost, separately from professional fees. Registries assess some charges per page or per mile.

This roadmap is a planning aid, not legal advice. Rules are amended and the court may give directions that displace these defaults — always verify against the cited rule.