MARIAM PARTEY vs. WILLIAM PARTEY [2013]DLCA8103

Date	2013-10-24
Suit No.	CRIMINAL APPEAL: NO. H2/22/2012
Citation No.	[2013]DLCA8103

KUSI-APPIAH J.A. (PRESIDING)

GYAESAYOR J.A.

DZAMEFE J.A.

MR. OSAFO BUABENG FOR THE RESPONDENT/APPELLANT

MR. E. SAM CRABBE FOR THE PETITIONER/RESPONDENT

[2013]DLCA8103
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													<main id="main" class="content" style="min-height: 60rem" >MARIAM PARTEY<o:p></o:p>(PETITIONER/RESPONDENT)<o:p></o:p>vs.<o:p></o:p>WILLIAM PARTEY<o:p></o:p>(RESPONDENT/APPELLANT)<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;
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CRIMINAL
APPEAL: NO. H2/22/2012&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: 24TH
OCTOBER, 2013<o:p></o:p>

</div>COUNSEL:&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>MR. OSAFO BUABENG FOR
THE RESPONDENT/APPELLANT<o:p></o:p><div style="mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.5pt;
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MR. E. SAM CRABBE FOR THE PETITIONER/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;
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KUSI-APPIAH
J.A. (PRESIDING), GYAESAYOR J.A., DZAMEFE 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;
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</div>KUSI-APPIAH, J.A.
:<o:p></o:p>This is an appeal against the
ruling of the Circuit Court, Accra, dated 20th day of April, 2012,
in favour of the Petitioner/Respondent against the Respondent/Appellant.&nbsp; I will refer to the parties in the manner
they appeared at the court below.<o:p></o:p>By her petition filed on 25th
day of May, 1999, the petitioner prayed for:-<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; “a.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An
order for dissolution of the marriage.<o:p></o:p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; b.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An order
for maintenance pending suit.<o:p></o:p>c.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An&nbsp; order restraining respondent from bringing
prospective buyers to H/No. 113 Airport West, Dzorwulu to view same.<o:p></o:p>d.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That
petitioner be given custody of the children of the marriage.<o:p></o:p>e.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; An
order for liberty to apply for financial provision.”<o:p></o:p>The facts of this case are
not in dispute.&nbsp; The petitioner pleaded
in the main that the marriage between her (Mrs. Mariam Ivy Partey) and the
respondent herein, Mr. William Kofi Partey was celebrated under the ordinance
at the Parish Church, St. Gabriel, Cricklewood, London, England on 17th
October, 1981 and had three children all of whom are now adults.<o:p></o:p>The petitioner averred that
after the celebration of the marriage, the parties lived together in the United
Kingdom in House No. 15 Portlet Court, Dowham Road London E2, before returning
to Ghana to live at H/No. 113 Airport West, Dzorwulu, Accra.&nbsp; According to the petitioner, the parties have
not lived as husband and wife for a continuous period of twelve years preceding
the presentation of the petition.&nbsp; That
the marriage has broken down beyond reconciliation because of unreasonable
behaviour (of not maintaining the petitioner and the children) and adultery on
the part of the respondent.<o:p></o:p>The record of appeal
indicates that the respondent upon being served with the (Petitioner’s)
petition, entered appearance under protest and followed it up with an
application to set aside the petition.&nbsp;
However, the said application was subsequently struck out for want of
prosecution by the trial court on 22nd day of June, 1999 with costs
of ¢150,000.00 now GH¢15.00.<o:p></o:p>A critical examination of the
record shows that the respondent did not file any answer to the pe</main>