An Accra Circuit Court has ordered a businessman in his 60s to pay GH¢200,000 in damages to a woman after failing to honour his promise to marry her following an 11-year relationship. The ruling was delivered on February 16, 2026, by Justice Sedinam Awo Kwadam, who was sitting with authority at the Circuit Court in Accra.
The case began when the businessman filed a suit asking the court to evict the woman from a two-bedroom apartment within a six-unit property at East Legon that he owns. In response, the woman counter-claimed for breach of promise to marry, arguing that the businessman had repeatedly assured her that they would wed, prompting her to invest time, resources, and emotional commitment into the relationship.
Evidence presented in court showed that the relationship began in 2013, when the woman was in Ghana and the businessman was often abroad. During the years together, the businessman sent money for the construction of the East Legon property and provided other forms of support. The woman managed and supervised the construction of the building and even moved into one of the completed units in 2017 at the businessman’s invitation.
Other evidence included the businessman giving her a ring, publicly acting as an in-law during her father’s funeral, and contributing financially in visible ways throughout their relationship. The court held that these acts supported the existence of a serious promise to marry and that the woman relied on that promise when she turned down other opportunities and dedicated years of her life to the union.
Justice Kwadam ruled that the businessman’s decision to end the relationship without marrying her amounted to a breach of promise, and awarded her damages composed of GH¢50,000 in general damages and GH¢150,000 in compensation for the emotional, social, and economic hardship she suffered. Interest at commercial rates will apply on the amount from the date of judgment.
The court also recognised that the woman had a beneficial interest in the East Legon apartment under equitable principles and allowed her to remain in the unit. She was further permitted to continue using a Toyota RAV4 vehicle and other property items because the businessman did not assert claims over them. Costs of GH¢20,000 were also awarded in her favour.
This ruling highlights how courts in Ghana can interpret promises of marriage as legally enforceable commitments under civil law when one party demonstrates reliance and suffers loss or hardship after a broken engagement.
