Recent claims made by businessman Richard Nii Armah Quaye (RNAQ) in an interview with media personality Delay have been described as “substantially untrue” by the lawyers of his ex-wife, Joana Quaye.

The news of the businessman and his ex-wife being divorced became public in mid-April this year after the High Court in Accra delivered its ruling on Joana’s petition.

Joana had petitioned the Court to dissolve her marriage with Richard Nii Armah Quaye over alleged years of domestic abuse, infidelity, and unfair treatment in their union. Thus she prayed to the Court for both protection and a fair share of marital assets.

According to a writ by Joana they built success together from humble beginnings. She had requested GH¢50 million in financial relief, but in return, Justice Dorgu awarded her GH¢300,000.

She sought both protection and a fair share of marital assets. As part of her requests, the Court allocated to her two vehicles, one-third of the matrimonial home located in Dansoman, which includes three bedrooms and shared access to facilities such as the kitchen, sitting room, and store.

However, according to reports, Judge Dorgu explained that Joana is “very much attractive and capable of remarrying at any time she wishes.”

Additionally, the judge is said to have stated that the decision was intended to serve as a deterrent to prevent “frequent divorces with the expectation of reaping huge monetary benefits.”

Justice Dorgu further stated, “…here is Petitioner who has been settled with 1/3 of the matrimonial home, the educational and health needs of the children placed on the Respondent, and her mobility issues are also taken care of. Physically, she is very much attractive and capable of remarrying anytime she feels like.”

Following the development, some Ghanaians have expressed mixed reactions on social media.

Appearing on The Delay Show on Saturday, April 25, RNAQ denied claims that he was already financially established before marriage. He also debunked allegations of ever abusing his ex-wife and being unfaithful.

Watch video here:

Reacting to his claims in a statement, Joana’s lawyers noted that “Our client, Joana Quaye, will continue to maintain her silence and place her faith in the justice system of Ghana in the hope that she will get justice for the wrongs and abuse inflicted on her by Richard Nii Armah Quaye as well as an equitable distribution of all the properties acquired during the marriage between the parties, as required under the laws of Ghana.

“Whilst denying all the allegations made by Richard Nii Armah Quaye as untrue, we state that the fact of the marriage between the parties in 2010 is a matter of public record and cannot be changed by a self-serving ex post facto interview”.

Read the full statement here:

JOANA QUAYE’S PRESS RELEASE ON RNAQ INTEDownload

Last year, RNAQ Foundation’s flagship Food Bank initiative aimed at combating food insecurity and empowering vulnerable communities across Ghana was launched.

According to the foundation, the RNAQ Food Bank initiative will partner with local food vendors to establish accessible food distribution hubs across the country. During the launch event on Friday, August 1, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, the founder, Richard Nii Amarh Quaye, shared a heartfelt reflection on the inspiration behind the project in his keynote address.

“I stand before you as a man who remembers what it feels like to be hungry, not just for food, but for hope, for dignity, and for change. Today, we launched the RNAQ Food Bank. But this is not just about food. This is about justice. It’s about dignity. It’s about telling every Ghanaian… that you also matter.”

He further mentioned that the initiative would begin with five food bank locations in Greater Accra, Korle-Gonno, Kasoa, Ashaiman, Odorkor, and Madina, with plans to expand nationwide.

“These food banks will open every single day, and through them, thousands of people will be fed daily. This is not charity. This is nation-building. This is how we create the Ghana we’ve all been dreaming of, one plate at a time,” he added.

This vision has earned Richard Nii Amarh Quaye applause and massive support from the government. Chief Executive officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, commended the initiative, describing it as a much-needed response to the growing food challenges facing young people and children.

“This food bank offers relief and hope. It is not just charity; it is impactful, and it will touch generations. In Ghana alone, 3.6 million students, about 11.7% of our population, struggle with access to sufficient food, with risk levels exceeding 30% in many northern districts,” Mr. Ayariga said.

Mr Abdulai Ayariga noted that the National Youth Authority and the Ministry of Youth Development are fully in support of the initiative, stressing that food security and youth empowerment are inseparable.

“Without meaningful youth engagement, food sovereignty will remain a mirage,” he said. He also called for cross-sector collaboration to boost food storage capacity and urban farming and adopt environmentally friendly farming technologies.

Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Setor Dumelo, also praised the foundation’s efforts, linking the initiative to the wider “Feed Ghana” agenda championed by the National Democratic Congress administration.

“We must celebrate one man who is using his wealth well, and that is RNAQ. Most of the people preparing the food are from the communities, so this creates employment. It feeds people and contributes to our Feed Ghana project. Our aim is to feed ourselves, feed the industries, and then export the rest. This food bank project is a valuable addition to that value chain.”

Mr. Dumelo also urged the foundation to support its farming efforts, emphasizing that consistent food prices play a crucial role in Ghana’s agricultural progress. “This is a very good initiative, and we support it 100%. I’ll make sure that every morning, I’ll take my Ghana Card to the food bank so I can also enjoy a hot, fresh meal,” he quipped.

In attendance at the event were celebrated Ghanaian actor Adjetey Anang, traditional leaders, philanthropists, and other notable personalities. Guests and journalists at the launch toured the food bank’s operational hubs in Korle-Gonno, where they observed the meal distribution process to needy families in action.

The RNAQ Foundation noted that the project rests on sustainability, dignity, and community engagement. The Foundation is determined to bridge systemic gaps in food access and wealth inequality with expansion in the Ashanti Region in the coming weeks and eventually nationwide.

Mr. Quaye affirmed that, “This is the Ghanaian dream...where we take care of our own. Where the solution doesn’t come from outside, but from within. And as long as I have breath in me, we will not stop.”

The official food distribution began on Friday, 1st August, with four operational centres strategically positioned in high-need communities across Accra. Locations such as Korle-Gonno, Kasoa, Ashaiman, Odorkor, and Madina were considered to begin the food distribution based on population density and levels of deprivation.

Unlike traditional food relief efforts that distribute uncooked or dry food items, the RNAQ Food Banks will provide hot, ready-to-eat meals sourced directly from local food vendors. According to spokesperson Patricia Hlorbu, the initiative not only guarantees nutritional value but also stimulates local economies by supporting small-scale catering businesses.

“The Food Bank Project marks a significant milestone for the Foundation,” she noted, adding that, “this comes in the wake of Richard Nii Armah Quaye’s transition from his role as Board Chairman of Bills MicroCredit and Chairman and CEO of Quick Angels. Under his leadership, Bills evolved from a startup in 2009 into a key player in Ghana’s microfinance sector, disbursing over GHS 7.5 billion in loans to underserved communities.”

Ghana has recorded a decline in its poverty rate from 26.4 percent in 2023 to 25.9 percent in 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to the Fund, the Ghanaian population living in extreme poverty is measured at the international poverty line of $2.15 daily.

In the improved growth outturn recorded last year, particularly in services and agriculture, as well as continued efforts to expand the country’s social protection programmes, led to the drop in poverty.

This included the four highly targeted programmes covered by the programme conditionality: the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP), the Capitation Grant, and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The Fund stated in its 4th Review Under the Economic Credit Facility Arrangement with Ghana that the government is redoubling efforts to expand social spending and shorten delays in releasing budgeted funds to beneficiaries.

According to the International Monetary Fund, going forward, “staying the course of macroeconomic policy adjustment and reforms is essential to fully and durably restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, while fostering a sustainable increase in economic growth and poverty reduction.”