BY Daniel Bampoe
Former Black Stars midfielder Nii Odartey Lamptey has become a symbol of resilience and new beginnings after rebuilding his life and family following one of the most publicised and emotionally draining divorce battles in the recent history.
The former Aston Villa and Anderlecht star is now happily married to Ruweida Yakubu, with whom he has three children, marking a fresh chapter after years of legal disputes and personal heartbreak that once dominated headlines across the country.
Lamptey’s difficult marital ordeal began during his marriage to his former wife, Gloria Appiah, whom he had been with for several years.
The relationship eventually collapsed after DNA tests established that the three children he had raised throughout the marriage were not his biological children.
The revelation sparked one of the most closely followed divorce cases, with the matter extending beyond the dissolution of the marriage into a lengthy legal battle over property, alimony and ownership of the footballer’s assets.
In 2017, the Accra High Court officially dissolved the marriage after considering the evidence presented before it. The court also ruled that the three children were not biologically related to the former footballer.
As part of the divorce settlement, the court ordered Gloria Appiah to vacate Lamptey’s seven-bedroom mansion located at East Legon, ruling that the property belonged to the former Black Stars player.
Although she did not retain ownership of the East Legon mansion, the court awarded her a four-bedroom house at Dome, two vehicles and a cash settlement of GH¢200,000, with subsequent financial adjustments made as part of the settlement.
However, the legal battle did not end there.
Between 2019 and 2021, Gloria Appiah pursued further legal action by appealing portions of the High Court’s decision, particularly challenging the ownership of the East Legon property, which she sought to have included as part of her alimony settlement.
The matter proceeded through the appellate courts, but both the Court of Appeal and subsequent legal challenges dismissed her claims, affirming that she had no legal entitlement to the East Legon mansion.
The prolonged litigation finally came to an end in April 2022 when the courts upheld earlier rulings and completed the legal process that restored possession of the East Legon property to Lamptey.
The mansion, reportedly acquired by the footballer for approximately US$100,000 during his successful playing career abroad, was officially returned to him following the final court determination.
Rather than allowing the painful experience to define the rest of his life, Lamptey chose to rebuild.
He later married Ruweida Yakubu, and together they have welcomed three children, giving the former footballer the family life he had long desired.
Friends, supporters and admirers have often described his journey as one of remarkable resilience, noting that despite enduring public humiliation, emotional trauma and years of courtroom battles, he remained focused on rebuilding his personal life.
Lamptey’s story has since been viewed by many as an example of perseverance, demonstrating that it is possible to recover from painful personal experiences and embrace new beginnings.
