In Ghana, a divorce can be requested after two years of marriage, according to Ghanaian attorney Richard Sena Hotor.
He claims that while a couple can seek for divorce two years after getting married, they can only have their marriage annulled one year after getting hitched.
In an interview with Joy News, Mr. Hotor discussed the legal requirements for starting a divorce in the nation.
“If it is something that you’re going to annul, it must be within one year. But if you have just married, it must take at least 2 years before you can bring a divorce petition,” he said.
When both spouses mutually consent to the divorce, the process is made simpler.
However, if there is a disagreement between the parties, it is recommended that one of them retain legal representation before filing the petition in the desired court.
He said, “It’s advisable that you get a lawyer who will first listen to your story and then situate it within the seven facts proving that the marriage has broken down beyond reconciliation.”
The other spouse must submit an answer after the petition has been filed. When a side doesn’t file, the attorney pursues other possible solutions to the issue.
“Once the petition is filed, it is the beginning of the end,” the legal practitioner added.
Mr. Sena said that the length of time needed to resolve a divorce case depends on how intricate the circumstances are.
Further appeals can be made to the court, he added, if a person thinks the court’s decision was unfair.