Dear GhanaWeb,

I am a 39-year-old woman who has been married for nearly 12 years. Together, we have four children, the youngest just four years old.

Two years ago, an incident occurred that completely changed my life and my home.

One morning, while I was busy with chores, I noticed my son holding an envelope he had picked up outside our room.

Distracted, I didn’t pay much attention. Later that evening, my husband came home searching for an envelope.

That was when I realized it was the same one I had seen with our son. He revealed it contained GH¢2000, money he was keeping for something important. When we couldn’t find it, he became furious and accused me of being careless.

One morning, while I was busy with chores, I noticed my son holding an envelope he had picked up outside our room. Distracted, I didn’t pay much attention. Later that evening, my husband came home searching for an envelope. That was when I realized it was the same one I had seen with our son.

He revealed it contained GH¢2000, money he was keeping for something important. When we couldn’t find it, he became furious and accused me of being careless.

From that day, he vowed not to take care of me or the household for two years. I thought it was anger speaking, but he has kept his word. For over two years now, he has refused to provide money for food, rent, or the children’s needs—only paying for electricity.

With my modest income of GH¢1200 a month, I have struggled to care for myself and our four children, relying heavily on siblings and friends to survive.

Last year, I had to transfer the children to a cheaper school because I could no longer afford their fees. He showed no concern.

He no longer eats at home, only comes to bathe and sleep, and even buys his own water separately, treating us like strangers under the same roof.

I have begged him countless times, involved his family, and even knelt with the children to plead with him. Instead of compassion, he told the children his only mistake was choosing the wrong mother for them.

Since then, he has ignored me completely—no conversation, no intimacy, no care.

He has even told me to renew the rent myself or move out with the children. At this point, I feel there is no marriage left to hold on to. It seems another woman may have taken his attention entirely.

I am exhausted, hurt, and confused. I don’t know what to do next. Should I keep holding on to this marriage, or is it time to walk away and start over?


FG/EB


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