I had money before marrying her’ – RNAQ speaks on divorce dispute with ex-wife

The narrative suggesting that business mogul Richard Nii Armah Quaye’s ex-wife, Joana Coffie, sacrificed herself to help him become successful has been challenged by the businessman, who insists that he was financially stable long before their marriage.

In an interview with media personality Delay, snippets of the yet-to-be-released conversation began circulating on social media on April 24, 2026.

In the interview, the Ghanaian business mogul maintained that he had already established his business and begun earning money before marrying Joana Coffie, countering claims that she played a defining role in his rise to success.

According to RNAQ, he independently financed their wedding, which he described as a luxurious ceremony, and argued that his financial capacity at the time was evidence that he was already stable before marriage.

RNAQ said the ceremony was so luxurious that it would not have been possible if he had not already been financially stable at the time.

Inside the Divorce Settlement: What the Court awarded RNAQ’s ex-wife

He also urged the public to disregard most of the claims circulating about him, insisting that 99% of those claims are false.

“I was working before I married her. I started my business before I married her. I started making money before I went to marry her, and I funded our wedding. If I didn’t have money, I couldn’t have married her, because we had a very luxurious wedding. I had money before marrying her. I spent a lot of money marrying her. All the things you have heard, 99% of it isn’t true,” Nii Armah said.

Meanwhile, GhanaWeb has sighted portions of a petition filed by Joana Coffie during the couple’s divorce proceedings at the Dansoman High Court, which presents a different account of their shared history.

According to the court documents, Joana Coffie explained that their relationship began after they both completed Senior High School in 2002 and that they initially worked small jobs to support themselves as they tried to build a future together.

The filing states that Joana worked as a shop attendant in a textile boutique at Makola, while Richard worked at his mother’s drinking bar.

It further indicates that the couple attempted to pursue university education together, using savings they had jointly accumulated from their jobs.

However, after their first year, Joana Coffie reportedly had to drop out due to financial constraints.

Following her exit from school, she is said to have taken up two jobs at a restaurant to continue earning income.

The documents further state that the couple later opened a joint account with the then SG SSB Bank, where she consistently saved her earnings.

Those savings were later invested in a Databank investment product, which reportedly matured to about GH¢10,151.17 in 2018.

The court filing also outlines that Richard Nii Armah Quaye later secured sponsorship to continue his studies abroad, with references made to how their joint investments contributed to supporting his education in the United Kingdom.

According to the documents, after completing his studies abroad in 2009, Richard returned to Ghana without employment, while Joana Coffie was working as a temporary teller at the Kaneshie branch of the then Unibank Limited.

It is further stated that Joana Coffie, using about GH¢3,000 she had saved, invested in a business idea proposed by Richard and a partner.

That investment, according to the filing, contributed to the establishment of Quick Credit Microfinance Company Limited, now known as Bills, although Joana is no longer part of the business.

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