ADDO vs. ADDO

The petitioner husband sought dissolution of the marriage under the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1971 (Act 367) on the basis that the marriage had broken down beyond reconciliation, that the parties had not lived as man and wife for a continuous period exceeding two years, and that the respondent wife was unreasonably withholding her consent to the grant of a decree. The evidence showed that the parties married in 1958 and had no children together. The wife had children before the marriage, while the husband admitted fathering four children with other women during the marriage. The parties had effectively ceased marital relations by 1967 and had not lived together as husband and wife since 7 March 1969, although before then they occupied the same house in separate domestic arrangements. The husband alleged that the wife’s persistent abuse, nagging and temper made life intolerable and affected his health. The wife, however, stated that the husband denied her sexual intercourse from 1967 because he was involved with other women, excluded her from his room, and physically assaulted her on occasions. She maintained that she still loved him and did not want the marriage dissolved, but admitted that he remained adamant and reconciliation efforts by priests and relatives had failed. [Portions relied on: opening paragraphs beginning 'The petitioner prays for dissolution...' through 'Attempts at reconciliation made by two priests and the wife’s own uncle and relatives failed'; and the wife’s account beginning 'She on her part says...' through 'The husband lives with one of the women as man and wife.']