Richard Nii Armah Quaye
The stage is set for what many are predicting to be a long and intense legal battle following a decision by Ms. Joana Quaye, ex-wife of Ghanaian billionaire Richard Nii Armah Quaye (RNAQ), to hire new lawyers to appeal against what she describes as “strange” judgment by a High Court in Accra in a divorce proceeding with her estranged ex-husband.
The woman, who had been married to the businessman for 16 years, resulting in three children, is challenging the court’s judgment delivered by Justice Kofi Dorgu, granting to her only GH¢300,000 out of the well-known “vast fortune” she built with the rich businessman over the years.
The impugned judgment was delivered in January 2026 after four years of protracted legal battle culminating in “final orders” issued by the court, which is the subject of the appeal.
The notice of appeal filed by her new lawyers, from Dame & Partners, avers that despite the evidence led at trial to show that Richard Nii Armah Quaye established his famous company, Quick Credit & Investment Micro-Credit Limited (renamed Bills Micro Credit Limited) with Joana Quaye as shareholders, out of which he built his wealth and established numerous other companies, the judge granted to the ex-wife only one-third share of a house at Dansoman, GH¢300,000 as financial provision and GH¢5,000 to be paid by RNAQ each month for the upkeep of all the three children.
The evidence led in the matter further indicated that all the properties owned by RNAQ, including houses at Trasacco Estate, East Legon and other rich neighbourhoods in Accra, a Rolls Royce car, Bentley, Range Rover and other luxurious vehicles and companies were all acquired by RNAQ after her marriage to Joana Quaye.
Grounds of Appeal
The appeal avers that the “final orders” of the trial court are “inconsistent with the principles and framework governing the identification and equitable distribution of marital property upon the dissolution of marriage enshrined in the Constitution and laws of Ghana, and affirmed by the Supreme Court of Ghana.”
It also contends that the trial judge committed a fundamental error of law by failing to recognise that all the immovable and movable properties claimed by respondent, including shares in companies, were acquired during the subsistence of the marriage and, thus, constitute marital property to be distributed equitably between the parties.
Ms. Quaye further argues that there was no adequate evaluation of her “direct and indirect contributions including domestic, monetary, non-monetary, supervisory and other means, to the acquisition, preservation, improvement and growth of the immovable and movable properties acquired during the subsistence of the marriage.”
Other grounds of appeal filed by Messrs. Dame & Partners on behalf of RNAQ’s ex-wife are that the trial court erred in not lifting the veil of incorporation in Quick Credit & Investment Micro-Credit Limited (renamed Bills Micro Credit Limited) and other related and affiliated companies, despite clear and compelling evidence that the parties jointly established the initial company, which served as the financial and operational foundation for the respondent’s subsequent business ventures.
The lawyers have also challenged the award of one-third of the “Dansoman House”, GH¢300,000 as financial relief and GH¢5,000 per month for the maintenance of three children of the marriage, as “manifestly inadequate, inequitable and unfair”.
Reliefs
Ms. Joana Quaye is, therefore, asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the “final orders” of the judgment of the trial court dated January 20, 2026.
She is also asking the Court of Appeal to grant her an “equitable share of all assets (immovable and movable) acquired during the subsistence of the marriage between the parties,” including RNAQ’s shares and beneficial interest in all companies.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak