What began as a high-profile divorce between a Ghanaian business mogul and his wife has unravelled into a deeply troubling portrait of alleged domestic abuse.
Court documents from the divorce proceedings of Richard Nii Armah Quaye — widely known as RNAQ — and his former wife, Joana Coffie, were made public in April 2026, exposing years of alleged violence, infidelity, and the eventual collapse of a union that began in their secondary school days.
A Judgement Which Raised Eyebrows
Last week, a court ruling was made public, sparking debate on social media after a High Court judge distributed marital assets in the divorce of prominent businessman Richard Quaye and his ex-wife, Joana Coffie.
The judge awarded her a modest GH¢300,000 lump sum while emphasizing the decision’s broader message on marital dissolution.
More details have emerged from court documents, detailing a pattern of alleged physical abuse doled out by Mr. Quaye as well as multiple infidelities with women outside the marriage, including one with a well-known celebrity.
Alleged Infidelity with a High Profile Celebrity
According to court documents, Mr. Quaye was allegedly romantically involved with Mona Faiz Montrage, the socialite-turned-musician better known as Hajia4Reall.
According to Joana Coffie’s testimony, Mr. Quaye deserted the couple’s matrimonial home in Dansoman in April 2021 and moved into their Trasacco estate property — allegedly with Hajia4Reall.
Ms. Coffie further alleged that her husband gave Hajia4Reall access to two luxury vehicles: a Range Rover Velar and a Bentley.
The documents also reveal that when Mr. Quaye justified his alleged extramarital activities by claiming his wife withheld intimacy from him, Joana did not deny it.
Her explanation, however, was stark — she said she feared contracting sexually transmitted infections, citing what she described as his persistent and largely unprotected involvement with multiple women.
She further alleged that her former husband made a habit of bringing women to their East Legon residence for intimate encounters.
A Pattern of Alleged Physical Abuse
Some of the most harrowing details in the court transcripts relate to an alleged assault that took place in June 2014 — shortly after Ms. Coffie gave birth to twins.
Ms. Coffie’s mother, who appeared as a witness, recounted hearing her daughter crying from the couple’s bedroom.
When she rushed to investigate, she said Mr. Quaye emerged with a belt in his hand and warned that he would continue to discipline his wife if she “misbehaved.”
The argument had apparently been triggered by Ms. Coffie’s request that the Jaguar he had gifted her for delivering the twins be formally transferred into her name.
‘Bloodstains in Her Nostrils’
A second key witness, Alfred Ankrah, who was described as a close associate of the family for nearly a decade, provided some of the most graphic testimony.
Mr. Ankrah said he had personally witnessed Mr. Quaye physically abuse his wife with a belt on multiple occasions and had, at times, physically intervened to stop him.
In one account, he recalled arriving after what appeared to be a violent Christmas night incident, finding Ms. Coffie with bloodstains in her nostrils, a swollen face, and puffy eyes.
When he asked what happened, she told him she had been in a car accident — something he did not believe.
Mr. Ankrah also alleged that Mr. Quaye once attempted to assault Joana because she had disclosed to his mother that she had provided him with capital to start Quick Credit, his financial services business.
Verbal Wounds
Beyond the physical allegations, the documents detail a pattern of verbal degradation. Mr. Quaye allegedly referred to his former wife as a ‘drunkard’, a ‘prostitute’, and someone who had amounted to nothing.
According to Mr. Ankrah’s testimony, the businessman openly declared that marriage felt like a prison and that he intended to one day divorce Joana and live as a free man.
What Comes Next
Mr. Quaye has not publicly addressed the specific allegations laid out in the court transcripts.
The divorce has already resulted in a court-ordered settlement, the details of which have been separately reported.
But the release of these documents has shifted the conversation beyond property and assets — into questions of accountability, abuse, and the private lives of public figures.
The revelation has also spread to social media, where it continues to be ferociously debated and discussed.
According to reports, Ms. Coffie has appealed the earlier divorce ruling and has sought new legal counsel.
This article was edited with AI and reviewed by human editors
