[2017]DLSC2509 • January 25, 2017 • Supreme Court •
MARTIN J. VERDOSE vs. PATRICIA ABENA VERDOSE-KURANCHIE
The petitioner, a Dutch national, and the respondent, a Ghanaian lady, married in Holland in 1984 and later lived in Ghana. They had two adopted daughters. Marital problems led to separation and petitions for divorce and ancillary reliefs. The High Court dissolved the marriage and made orders on custody and maintenance but did not settle property ownership. The Court of Appeal declared the petitioner the absolute owner of the McCarthy Hill house and ordered the respondent to transfer it to him, while other properties were settled in favor of the respondent and children.
read morePWAMANG, JSC. The facts giving rise to this appeal are fairly simple. The petitioner/respondent/respondent, hereafter referred to in this judgment as the petitioner, is a Dutch national while the respondent/appellant/appellant, to be referred to as the respondent, is a Ghanaian lady. They got married in Holland in 1984 and after a brief sojourn in Libya they moved to live in Ghana. They were living together at McCarthy Hill, Accra, but problems later developed in the marriage and petitioner moved out of the matrimonial home. The parties have two adopted female children aged 16 and 9 years as at 2007. He subsequently filed a petition for divorce and ancillary reliefs. Respondent also crossed petitioned and prayed for a dissolution of the marriage and ancillary reliefs. After a trial at which only the parties testified without calling witnesses the High Court gave judgment on 11th May,2009 and made orders dissolving the marriage and for custody and maintenance of the children. However, ...