A dramatic new chapter has emerged in the high-profile divorce case involving businessman Richard Nii Armah Quaye and his former wife, Joana Quaye, with fresh allegations of judicial misconduct intensifying the national debate over spousal property rights in Ghana.
The latest development has thrust the issue of spousal property into the spotlight, as Joana Quaye formally petitions the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council of Ghana over what she describes as gross misconduct by the trial judge.
The case has also renewed calls for Parliament to urgently pass the long-delayed Spousal Property Bill.
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At the centre of the controversy is Justice Justin Dorgu, who presided over the divorce proceedings.
According to Joana Quaye’s petition, final court orders on property division, child custody, and maintenance were delivered on January 20, 2026, triggering the three months allowed for filing an appeal.
However, the full written judgment containing the judge’s legal reasoning was reportedly released on April 20, 2026—one day after the appeal deadline expired on April 19.
Joana Quaye argues that the delay unfairly jeopardised her constitutional right to challenge the ruling and forced her legal team to file an appeal without access to the court’s complete reasoning.
The dispute has sparked wider concern among women’s rights advocates, led by International Federation of Women Lawyers Ghana (FIDA Ghana).
The group recently petitioned Parliament to expedite passage of the Spousal Property Bill, arguing that Ghana’s failure to enact comprehensive legislation has created uncertainty and hardship for many families.
In a petition signed by Gloria Ofori-Boadu, the organisation warned that the absence of clear legal safeguards continues to expose spouses and children to displacement and economic deprivation after divorce.
Responding to the petition, Alban Bagbin assured FIDA Ghana that Parliament is fully prepared to fast-track the bill, even under a certificate of urgency.
“We ourselves are very concerned about it,” the Speaker said, noting that lawmakers frequently encounter vulnerable women and children in their constituencies who face severe hardships after marital breakdowns.
Bagbin stressed that the campaign is not only about women and children but about protecting the dignity and welfare of all Ghanaian families.
The RNAQ divorce saga has become one of the most closely watched legal disputes in Ghana, raising critical questions about judicial procedure, constitutional rights, and the urgent need for stronger legal protections in matters of marital property.
Legal analysts say the outcome could significantly influence future reforms and shape how Ghana addresses the equitable distribution of assets acquired during marriage.