NANA OBENG AKROFI (PETITIONER/APPELLANT) vs. DOROTHY OBENG AKROFI (RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT) [2019]DLCA7727

NANA OBENG AKROFI (PETITIONER/APPELLANT) vs. DOROTHY OBENG AKROFI (RESPONDENT/RE... [2019]DLCA7727

Date	2019-12-05
Suit No.	CIVIL APPEAL: NO: H1/41/2019
Citation No.	[2019]DLCA7727

KUSI-APPIAH J.A. – PRESIDING

KWOFIE J.A.

AGBEVOR J.A.

MR. CHARLES K. BENTUM FOR PETITIONER/APPELLANT

MR. JOHNNY ADEEKU FOR RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT

[2019]DLCA7727
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >NANA OBENG
AKROFI<o:p></o:p>(PETITIONER/APPELLANT)<o:p></o:p><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt;
line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;
mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Book Antiqua&quot;;color:#00B0F0">vs.<o:p></o:p>DOROTHY OBENG AKROFI<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>[COURT
OF APPEAL, ACCRA]<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

CIVIL
APPEAL: NO:&nbsp; H1/41/2019&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; DATE: 5TH DECEMBER, 2019<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:<o:p></o:p>MR.
CHARLES K. BENTUM FOR PETITIONER/APPELLANT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

MR.
JOHNNY ADEEKU FOR RESPONDENT/RESPONDENT<o:p></o:p>

</div>CORAM:<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

KUSI-APPIAH
J.A. – PRESIDING, KWOFIE J.A., AGBEVOR J.A.<o:p></o:p>

</div><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
padding:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm">

</div>KUSI-APPIAH, J.A.:<o:p></o:p>The
parties herein were married couple.&nbsp; They
got married under customary law on 5th July, 1997 and converted same
into an ordinance marriage on 13th November, 1998.&nbsp; Thereafter, the parties co-habited at Nii Boi
Town, Lapaz, Dansoman and Aplaku, all suburbs in Accra.&nbsp; The marriage is blessed with five children,
namely:&nbsp; Eugene, Clara, Karen B (twins),
Bright and Kelvin who at the time of institution of this suit in 2009 were 11
years, 8 years, 8 years, 4 years and 3 years respectively.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p>Nana
Obeng Akrofi the petitioner who is the appellant in this appeal, petitions the
High Court, Accra in September, 2009 for the single relief of dissolution of
the marriage, alleging the marriage had broken down beyond reconciliation citing
unreasonable behavior and adultery.<o:p></o:p>The
respondent not only answers the petition but also cross-petitioned for the
dissolution of the marriage on ground of cruelty.&nbsp; Her cross-prayer is as follows:<o:p></o:p>“a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the marriage between the parties be dissolved.<o:p></o:p>b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That 50% of the parties’ house situate at Aplaku be settled
in the respondent’s name.<o:p></o:p>c.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the petitioner be ordered to maintain the children at
GH¢1,000.00 per month.<o:p></o:p>d.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the petitioner pays an alimony of GH¢200,000.00<o:p></o:p>e,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the petitioner be ordered to pay the children’s school
fees and medical expenses.<o:p></o:p>f.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the respondent be granted the custody of the children.<o:p></o:p>g.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the respondent be granted substantial portion of the
parties’ hotel, Ultimate Hotel and payment of arrears of salaries from Classfam
Ghana Limited from July, 2009.<o:p></o:p>h.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That the respondent be granted the franchise for the Doli
products which is the creation of the respondent.”<o:p></o:p>The
trial court dissolved the marriage but formed the opinion that all the properties
mentioned in the petition and cross-petition as shown above were jointly owned
by the parties.<o:p></o:p>The
court therefore made the following orders settling the said properties:<o:p></o:p>“1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Since the Ultimate Hotel Limited and the matrimonial home at Aplaku
are both matrimonial properties, the parties are to share them in proportions of
50-50 (equal shares).<o:p></o:p><s</main>