Businessman jailed 12 months over bigamy

An Accra circuit court has sentenced a businessman to a jail term of 12 months for bigamy. Emmanuel Kodjo Narh, the accused, got married to a nurse resident in the United States while still legally married to his wife in Ghana.

The court, presided over by Christina Cann, acquitted Narh on the charge of the threat of harm. The court noted that the prosecution was able to prove the offence of bigamy, but could not prove the charge of threat of harm.

The prosecution stated that the complainant, whose name is withheld, is a nurse resident in the USA and a native of Odumase Krobo. In June 2015, while the complainant was in the USA, she received a call from her property caretaker in Ghana that a road was being constructed on her parcel of land.

The prosecution said the caretaker provided five phone numbers, including Narh’s, to the complainant. The complainant called the numbers and Narh introduced himself and promised to address the challenge on the land.

The prosecution said through interactions, the complainant and Narh became friends.
Narh called the complainant daily to check up on her. In August 2015, Narh proposed to the complainant, but she said she would like them to get to know each other in person first.

She also stated that she would visit Ghana so they could talk about the proposal.

The prosecution said on 26 October 2015, the complainant met Narh for the first time on her arrival at the airport. On 28 October 2015, Narh engaged the complainant with a ring and took her to meet his family and some of his employees.

The prosecution said Narh had earlier told the complainant that he had six children with two other women but was not married to either of them. The complainant also told Narh that she was divorcee.

After the engagement, the complainant went back to the USA in November 2015. Narh’s family went to the complainant’s family house for the marriage list and performed the marriage rites in her absence.

The prosecution said the complainant returned to Ghana again and went with Narh to Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly where the marriage was subsequently registered with certificate number LMKMA/MC/2015/18.

The complainant later saw another certificate of marriage between Narh and another woman with license number SMC/028/09 dated 4 October 2008.

She confronted Narh about the issue and said she wanted to end the marriage. On 24 April 2016, the complainant’s ‘rival’ attacked and subjected her to physical abuse because she had taken over her husband.

The prosecution said the matter was reported to the police at Odumase and Narh’s first wife was arrested.

Narh submitted his witness statement indicating that the two women were his wives.
The prosecution said the complainant returned to the USA and begged to discontinue the fictitious marriage.

On 3 June 2019, the complainant received a threatening message on WhatsApp from Narh through his son’s phone which read “We shall see, but this time, this is going to be a tribal war, I swear.”

The complainant petitioned the director general of the criminal investigations department through her lawyer. The matter was referred to the domestic violence and victims support unit at the Police Headquarters, Accra.

The prosecution said Narh was invited and he submitted his statement indicating that the marriage between him and the complainant was a “planned thing” to facilitate documents for his daughter to travel to the USA.