Divorce case filed before Ho Circuit Court has lingered since 2016 due to the Presiding Judge’s bizarre delay in appending her signature to the divorce decree.
Although the petitioner (Man) has fulfilled the agreements contained in the divorce settlement including spousal compensation, child support, property division among others after the judgement was finally delivered, the Judge has since been stalling the final process by not signing the divorce document.
Starr News has gathered the petitioner who stays outside the country has paid an amount of Gh10,000 as compensation to the ex-wife, given her a car in addition to household appliances (TVs, subwoofers, washing machine, etc), furniture, equipment including electric generator among others.
The woman who seems to be enjoying the support of the Judge has reportedly blocked the family of the man from having any access to their 7-year-old child. She allegedly locks the child indoors whenever the man is in Ghana and attempts to see her.
A proposal by the man to allow the child, an American citizen, to school in America and spend her holidays in Ghana has been rejected by the wife.
“I have run out of option and I hurt every day that my child will never know my love for her. The last time I saw the child, she told me her mom told her not to love me and to pretend she doesn’t know me when she sees me. She continued and said but “daddy I love you and one day you’ll tell me everything. I froze in my shoes when I heard this from my little girl. First, because I never thought a child of her age could say that and secondly, I wept because here she was professing love for me when she was taught to do otherwise. I hurt constantly because I fear the child is being taught the wrong things in life”.
Nonetheless, the two parties have signed their part of the divorce documents and agreements therein however the Judge recently promoted to the bench of High Court, has failed to sign her part but keeps rescheduling her signing date.
Starr News has gathered that the Judge attends the same church with the ex-wife of the petitioner. It is however not clear why the Judge has refused to sign the divorce decree.
Officials at the Ho Circuit Court refused to speak on the matter when Starr News visited the Court. According to them, the registrar had travelled to attend workshop. They also refused to give out contact of the Registrar whom they say was the right person to speak on the matter.
Divorce in Ghana
The Matrimonial Causes Act, 1971 (Act 367) governs the current law on divorce in Ghana.
According to an article by David Yaw Danquah, the law provides that, a petition for divorce may be presented to the court by either party to a marriage. However, the petitioner of the divorce i. e the person who starts the proceedings must be able to provide evidence to the effect that the marriage has broken down beyond reconciliation.
This fact is the sole ground for divorce. That notwithstanding this sole ground must be evidenced by proof of Adultery, Unreasonable Behavior, Desertion, Separation with consent for a period of 2 years, and 5 years of Separation.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Kojo Ansah
