Communications Director at the presidency, Eugene Arhin has had his marriage with his now ex-wife, Gloria Assan dissolved by the Divorce and Matrimonial Division of the Accra High Court.
The court presided over by Justice Cecilia Don Chebe Agbeye, indicated that the estranged ex-wife could not provide enough evidence to substantiate her claim of infidelity against Mr Arhin.
It will be recalled that one of the allegations, chief among them was that “the respondent, in the person of Eugene Arhin has committed and continues to commit adultery with one Chantel Kudjawu aka Gertrude Gbajo.”
Reports, however indicates that the court didn’t find the wife with enough evidence to validate her infidelity claims against Eugene Arhin but granted the divorce wish of Gloria Assan.
In her ruling, justice Gbajo maintained that “a person who makes an averment or assertion, which is denied by his opponent has the burden to establish that his averment or assertion is true. And, he does not discharge this burden unless he leads admissible and credible evidence from which the fact or facts he asserts can properly and safely be inferred. The nature of each averment or assertion determines the degree and nature of that burden.”
In laying further emphasis, she said “Direct evidence of adultery is rare. In nearly every case, the fact of adultery is inferred from the circumstances which by fair and necessary inference lead to that conclusion”
She indicated that the petitioner was merely being repetitive in her pleadings and failed woefully in her bid to adduce evidence substantive enough to convince the court to make the appropriate inference to the effect that the reposndent had indeed committed adultery.
The judge in cancelling the marriage detailed that there have been attempts by people close to the estranged spouses to restore the marriage but all efforts failed and that the marriage had broken beyond repairs.
The ruling indicates that Gloria Assan will keep custody of their three children but Euguene Arhin has the right to visit the children anytime subjected to the notice of not less than 2 hours to Gloria Assan.
Mr Arhin has been ordered by the court to pay a sum of GHC100,000 to his now-ex-wife who has also won the rights to own a five-bedroom uncompleted house in the Kpone Katamanso district.
In addition to that, the petitioner has been accorded three vehicles.
The respondent has also been granted permission to pick the children from school when they close on Fridays and return them to the school at 7:30 on Mondays or when school in session.
In the event where he (Eugene Arhin) travels out of the country, he will notify his ex-wife of his absence and ask her to pick the children from school. The court also instructed that vacation periods for the school be shared equally by both parties on a rotational basis.
Also, a monthly allowance of GHC6,000 will be shared 60% and 40% by Eugene Arhin and Glorian Assan respectively. Eugene Arhin as per the report is also obliged to foot the educational and medical care of the children.