Ransford Tetteh, aged 37 and unemployed has been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court for Bigamy.
In reading the brief facts, the Prosecutor narrated that the Complainant Lois Naa Dedei Gaba aged 36 is an I.T. consultant and lives at Kasoa Amanfrom whilst the Accused person Ransford Tetteh aged 37 is unemployed and lives at Aburi-Ahwerease in the Eastern Region.
He explained that both the Complainant and the Accused person are married under the Marriages Act on 5th February, 2011 and blessed with two children.
The Prosecutor added that in 2016, the couple had a misunderstanding and the Complainant left with the children to live with her mother at Kasoa.
According to the Prosecutor, on 14th October, 2017, the Accused person went and married Reverend Mina Obeng, the General Overseer of ‘Come to Jesus’ Ministry, Akropong, in her family house in the Eastern Region under the customary marriage and their marriage was blessed by Prophetess Mrs Elizabeth Okrah Obeng of ‘Jehovah Rapha’ Church, Suhum.
In the same month, Reverend Mina Obeng assumed the supposed husbands name.
“She has a church banner all over Akropong, which had her name captured as Reverend Mina Obeng Tetteh (Mrs). She further displayed some of the pictures taken during the marriage ceremony on her Facebook page”, the Prosecutor said.
He added that the Complainant saw the pictures and reported the matter to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.
The Prosecutor said that during investigation, Reverend Mrs. Mina Obeng Tetteh admitted that she is married to the Accused person. Before their marriage the Accused person told her that he was a divorcee with two children.
“She further told the Police that the marriage ceremony took place in her family house at Akropong and that they live together as husband and wife at Aburi-Ahwerease in the Eastern Region”, he explained. The Prosecutor went on to say that during investigations, the said house was visited and indeed it came to light that the two are married and living together as husband and wife and the marriage was witnessed by members of both families.
The Accused person was arrested and cautioned.
He indicated in his caution statement that the complainant left the matrimonial home a year and a half ago, and that she further sent drinks back to his family dissolving the marriage hence his decision to contract another marriage.
The Accused person has been granted bail in the sum of GH₵30,000 with 2 sureties.
The case has been adjourned to 19th March, 2017.
SOURCE: Ghanajustice/F.Kyeremanteng
