An eleven-year marriage has collapsed into fear, separation, and a painful custody battle after a woman accused her husband of threatening her life and later taking custody of their children, leaving her emotionally shattered and pleading for intervention.
Martha Fiavonu appeared on Nhyira FM’s Obra programme, hosted by Ohemaa Benewa, alleging that her marriage to Daniel Agbayisa deteriorated after threats on her life.
According to Martha, the marriage had been stable until a series of disturbing incidents created suspicion and emotional distress. She told the programme that her fears intensified one day when her husband brought home corn dough that appeared unusual, prompting her to question him.
“When I asked him about it, he became very angry. That was when everything started changing,” Martha recounted.
She said the situation escalated when she later saw Daniel holding a bottle wrapped in a handkerchief, a sight she described as frightening and suspicious.
“I became very scared. I didn’t feel safe in the house anymore,” she said, explaining that the incident pushed her to take drastic action.
Fearing for her safety, Martha said she packed her belongings into her room and fled to her family house, a move she described as the final collapse of the marriage.
Following the separation and eventual divorce, Martha alleged that Daniel came for their children and insisted that he would not provide for them if they remained in her care. Since then, she says she has been denied custody and regular access to the children.
“I may not have money, but I am their mother. I want to be with my children,” she cried.
Daniel Agbayisa denied the allegation of threatening Martha’s life, insisting that the marriage ended due to what he described as her poor domestic conduct. He told the Obra panel that he remarried because he could no longer tolerate her habits.
“She was dirty. She would leave bowls unwashed, wash her clothes late at night, and braid her hair at odd hours,” Daniel claimed, adding that these issues made the marriage unbearable.
Daniel maintained that his decision to take the children was based on their welfare, insisting that he could provide better care for them.
The revelations drew emotional reactions from the studio audience, many of whom expressed pity for Martha, noting that she appeared to be battling depression and emotional trauma. While she admitted that she cannot currently cater for all four children alone, she insisted that being separated from them has deepened her pain.
“I feel empty without my children,” she said quietly.
The Obra panel weighed in on the sensitive case, urging caution, empathy, and responsibility.
Lady Gold questioned the manner in which the separation was handled, stressing that fear and intimidation have no place in marriage. “If a woman says she was afraid for her life, that is serious. You don’t dismiss that,” she stated.
Evangelist de-Grapht Addai focused on accountability and the emotional consequences of marital breakdown. “Marriage must not end in fear. Even if there were problems, threatening someone or taking children without proper dialogue is wrong,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, Gifty Donkor, popularly known as Big Mama, appealed for compassion, particularly considering Martha’s emotional state. “This woman is broken. Whether you agree with her or not, she needs help and access to her children,” she said.
In her closing remarks, host Ohemaa Benewa described the case as deeply painful and complex, warning against simplifying issues of fear, custody, and mental health.
“This is not just about who is right or wrong. It is about safety, emotional healing, and the future of the children,” she said.
Ohemaa emphasized that while stability is important, a mother’s presence in her children’s lives is equally critical, urging both parties to consider solutions that prioritize the children’s emotional well-being.
Martha Fiavonu is now appealing for intervention, hoping for a resolution that will allow her to reconnect with her children and begin the long process of healing after what she describes as a marriage that ended not in peace, but in fear.
