AZU CRABBE J.A.: On or about 10 march 1964, the respondent, (hereinafter referred to as the plaintiff), who was employed as a cleaner by the appellants (hereinafter called the defendants), was injured while cleaning a revolving or rotatory machine at the defendant’s factory in Kumasi. The medical evidence for the plaintiff showed that the plaintiff had a severe compound fracture (crash injury) of the right hand, amounting virtually to traumatic amputation of the right hand above the level of the wrist joint. This injury necessitated surgical amputation of the right hand above the level of the wrist joint.
There were also lacerated wounds involving the index and the middle fingers of the left hand which had been permanently deformed, and this would interfere with his capacity to grip objects or things. Permanent disability was estimated by the medical witness at 45 per cent plus ten per cent disability due to the injury to the left hand—a total of 55 per cent permanent incapacity.
The pl…