Dear GhanaWeb: My husband hits me terribly at any given chance

Dear GhanaWeb,

My husband and I have been having a rough time since 2021. It’s only by God’s grace that we’re alive and have come this far.

Two years into our marriage, he changed completely. He started cheating, and all of a sudden, hitting me whenever I tried to let him know of my frustrations.

I had a child, so I stopped retaliating so he wouldn't hit me, but he still does once in a while, particularly when he is angry. He makes it a habit to continuously slap me when he is talking, and so I try not to get close to him.

I wanted to leave, but I realised I was pregnant again and so I went to stay with my mother until I delivered. I went back to the house early last year after he kept coming and begging me to return.

And while I was staying with my mother, he stopped taking care of us. He said he would only provide when we are under his roof.

The first month after we returned, he tried to be the best husband and father in the world, but stopped suddenly and became abusive again.

I’ve always done my duty as a wife and tried not to get on his nerves or in his way. I avoid him so he doesn’t hit me, and that’s how we’ve lived.

But he still finds ways to attack me, even in front of the children, and sometimes, he really hurts me.

Last week Friday, he came home late as usual. He didn’t give me money before leaving the house, so I didn’t cook because I sincerely didn’t have money. I spent all I had when we went to stay with my mother, and I can’t work now because he won’t let me.

I warmed some groundnut soup in the fridge with banku. That’s what I ate, and it’s the same thing I served him. I even made sure I gave him almost all the meat, so he doesn’t complain.

When he returned, he said he won’t eat warmed food, so I should take money and cook him something new.

It was almost 11 PM, and I couldn’t, so I begged him to manage. He started slapping me and saying he married me, so I have to do what he wants. He hit my lips and bloodied my mouth.

For the first time, I gathered the courage to hit him in the face so hard, and I felt something fall. He held his mouth, and when he took off his hands, I saw blood and a tooth on the floor.

I got so scared and fell. He hit me mercilessly, picked his tooth and left, saying it’s not over. That same night, my kids and I left and went all the way to Cape Coast to my mother’s place.

He has been texting and calling, saying I removed his tooth so he will do the same to me. This is where my marriage is at the moment. Should I just let this end in divorce? I’m really devastated. What should I do now?

FG/AE

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