Divorce threats loom over marriages of Stars

In spite of growing observation among the Ghanaian society with regard to marriages of gospel musicians, which has been described as a failure or fraught with problems?

Over the last 10 years, an interesting development emerged, when a number of accomplished gospel songstresses tied the nuptial knot with some pastors.
Meanwhile, information reaching the paper has indicated that, concerns raised lately by the Ghanaian society imply that though these marriages were contracted on the foundation of the Scriptures, they are disintegrating in rapid sequence.

Since the past six years, at least five of such marriages have gone through turbulent times, eventually falling apart, with husband and wife going their separate ways.
Some of the stars have reverted to their maiden names, or re-married and taken the names of their new partners.

Some enquiries made by the paper revealed that most of the men who married these gospel stars lacked confidence and always felt threatened because of the growing popularity of their spouses.

One of the affected musicians who remain anonymous confided in the paper saying, “My husband is very jealous. He feels insecure. I kept assuring and reassuring him that he had nothing to fear, and that I am all for him, but it appears the more I kept on assuring him of my loyalty, the more threatened he felt.”
According to the musician, “this strange attitude of my former husband persisted and he started assaulting me left and right. Worse of all, he embarrasses me in the presence of friends and relatives.” She explained that at a point, she realised she could no longer accommodate the mental torture and humiliation, and so they had to go their separate ways.

Another musician told this reporter that during the initial stages of her marriage with her former husband, she thought she was married to a saint. “ He was caring and loving. However, along the line, I realised that he had a contrary spirit. Whenever I start praying he gets annoyed. He easily gets infuriated and beats me at the slightest opportunity.”

She added that her case was one of great humiliation compared to what others had gone through. “My former husband beats me to the extent that he drags me out of our home onto the streets and assaults me in the full glare of our neighbours. At a point, I had to seek refuge at the police station.”
According to the lady, the case finally ended in court and he was restrained from interfering in my life. She said for the period that the case dragged on in court, they lived separately (not as a man and wife) in the same house.

Even under that condition, the lady claimed she always had to have some friends and relatives around her, because her former husband could pounce on her anytime he came home and saw her alone.

The most recent incident that can be recalled of a star's divorce case is the one involving Esther Smith and her husband, Rev. Bonsu. According to Esther's father, Mr Anthony Smith, as reported in the Graphic Showbiz of May 29, 2008, even though he did not bless his daughter's marriage with the “so-called” man of God, his daughter was very engrossed in the relationship from the beginning.

Mr Smith said although Rev. Bonsu said he was a Pastor, there were times that he could smell alcohol in his breath.

“There were some guys who also told me he was their drinking mate. I told Esther about this, but she turned deaf ears to me.”

“I had to part ways with my daughter on that score and for the past four years we have not been on very good terms. I tried as much as I could not to let the public know about this problem until now,” he added.