LINDA AKOTO vs BRIGHT KWESI MANU

JUDGMENT The Petitioner seeks a dissolution of the marriage celebrated between herself and the Respondent on the grounds that the Respondent during the pendency of their twelve (12) year marriage has deserted the Petitioner and treated her with cruelty. Even though not expressly stated, Petitioner appears to accuse the Respondent of adultery in paragraph 18 of her petition. The Respondent though duly served with the petition opted not to file an answer because according to his counsel they had “no objection to the petition”. Both counsel for Respondent and Petitioner, therefore prayed, at the commencement of the trial for an order for dissolution of the marriage pending an agreement being reached by the parties on the ancillary reliefs. This court however declined the said invitation in the light of Section 2(3) of the Matrimonial Causes Act, Act 367 which enjoins this court only to grant a petition for divorce after is has been satisfied on all the evidence that there has bee...