Paul Ampadu v. Jemima Asantewa Ampadu
2016
HIGH COURT
GHANA
CORAM
- HER LADYSHIP MRS MERLEY WOOD J.
Areas of Law
- Family Law
2016
HIGH COURT
GHANA
CORAM
AI Generated Summary
The husband sought dissolution and custody of the children in the marriage, while the wife also agreed to dissolution but sought custody, financial settlement, and sharing of assets. The court found the marriage had irretrievably broken down due to both parties' inability to reconcile. Custody of the children was awarded to the respondent, and the petitioner was ordered to continue providing for their needs. The property acquired during the marriage was divided, granting the respondent a share in the property and a lump sum as financial provision, considering the contributions and circumstances of both parties.
The husband Petitioner seeks the dissolution of the marriage contracted between himself and the Respondent and prays for the following reliefs: a. That the marriage be dissolved.
b. That the Petitioner prays for custody of the children, namely Kwame Armah Ampadu and Akua Ankumah Ampadu.
The Respondent in her amended answer prays for the following reliefs: 1. That the marriage be dissolved.
2. That the Respondent should be given custody of the children namely Kwame Armah Ampadu and Akua Ankumah Ampadu with visitation rights to the Petitioner.
3. That a lump sum of One hundred and fifty thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢150, 000)should be paid by the Petitioner to the Respondent as dissolution settlement.
4. That the Petitioner should maintain the Respondent during the pendency of this suit.
5. That the following assets should be shared equally between the Petitioner and Respondent: a. Uncompleted building at Djarman (near Gbawe), Accra.
b. Two plots of land at Kasoa c. Ten taxis in the taxi business known as P&J Company.
6. That a two bedroom apartment should be rented by the Petitioner for a period a six years for the Respondent, the two children and a househelp.
The Petitioner should pay six years rent advance.
7. That the Petitioner should provide financially for the feeding of the children, payment of their school fees, hospital expenses and clothes including those of the househelp every month.
8. That the Petitioner should pay the utility bills of the two bedroom apartment that he would rent for the Respondent, the children and the househelp including GO TV for the children.
9. That the Petitioner should provide a car for the children.
10. Any further reliefs that this Honourable Court may deem fit having regard to property rights.
The evidence on oath of the Petitioner is that after having their customary law marriage of 8th November 2008 converted into an ordinance marriage on 9th March 2009, they lived together until December 2013 when he left the matrimonial home.
He attributes the breakdown of the marriage to incessant quarrels concerning the upkeep of the children and the Respondent taking unilateral decisions on family issues by abandoning her responsibility as mother and wife and bringing untold hardship on the family.
He says because the Respondent was pursuing a course after the birth of their second child, she lived on campus and came home at the weekends, she refused to look after the children when she was home and his compl