Karen Baaba Sam, a young and resilient Ghanaian woman, has broken her silence on the years of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse she endured at the hands of her ex-partner, Nana Kwadwo Adjei.

In a chilling account, Karen details the harrowing experiences that began in 2016 and culminated in a bitter custody battle over their daughter, Ohemaa.

Karen met Nana Kwadwo Adjei in 2016. What initially seemed like a loving and protective relationship soon took a dark turn.

By 2018, when she became pregnant with their daughter, Nana Adjei appeared excited, especially since most of his children from previous relationships lived abroad with their mothers.

However, cracks began to show when his second son, who had moved in with them, left after suffering physical abuse from his father.

Karen recalls the first incident of domestic violence occurring in December 2018, when Nana returned home drunk after a night out.

When she questioned him about his whereabouts, he responded with slaps and kicks to her body, including her pregnant belly.

“I was more scared for my unborn child than for myself,” she recounted.

She managed to call a friend, Leeroy, who intervened. Nana later apologized, blaming alcohol for his actions.

Over the years, Karen suffered repeated physical assaults, often resulting in black eyes and a swollen face.

Despite her brother filing a report at the East Legon Police Station, no action was taken.

According to Karen, Nana boasted about his influence over the police, making it impossible for her to seek justice.

Karen’s breaking point came in April 2023, when she encountered Nana at a restaurant with another woman, whom she later discovered was his new girlfriend.

When she attempted to leave with him in his car, the woman humiliated her in public, while Nana did nothing to stop it. Karen chose to walk away.

However, when she got home, Nana attacked her again, beating her in their daughter’s presence.

Two family friends visiting from Germany who tried to intervene were also assaulted.

During the chaos, he even kicked their daughter, causing her to fall and cry.

Determined to escape the abuse, Karen ended the relationship in December 2023.

Nana reacted with threats and demanded the return of all gifts he had given her, including their daughter’s school car. Fearing further abuse, Karen moved out in February 2024.

On her very first night in her new home, Karen was robbed at gunpoint, with all her valuables stolen.

She found the timing suspicious, especially when Nana demanded the return of a specific necklace—the only valuable the robbers did not take.

The authorities believed the attack was carried out by someone close to her, prompting them to assign her police protection.

Shortly after, Nana requested that their daughter spend two weeks of her school holiday with him.

Karen agreed and dropped off a few belongings, along with her niece to assist with childcare.

However, Nana soon began harassing her with verbal abuse, accusing her of seeing another man and demanding she keep their breakup private.

Matters escalated when Nana refused to return their daughter after the agreed-upon two weeks.

Karen reported the incident, and security officials intercepted him at the airport, preventing him from leaving the country with the child under the pretence of a trip to Dubai.

After six weeks of forced separation, Karen was finally reunited with her daughter, who had been misled to believe she was travelling to Dubai to see her mother.

Despite an initial Circuit Court order granting Karen protective custody, a lower District Court later ruled in favour of Nana, allowing him to keep the child.

The decision shocked Karen, as her daughter had lost weight and was constantly crying to return to her.

Nana reportedly left the child in the care of a 16-year-old girl, raising further concerns about her welfare and safety.

Karen alleges that her ex-partner resorted to threats, blackmail, and media manipulation to force her into compliance. He reportedly paid bloggers and radio hosts to spread false stories about her, claiming she was in a relationship with a top security official.

The threats escalated when armed men, led by Nana, stormed her home with a court order, harassed her family, and attempted to arrest her mother.

In the following days, Nana declared Karen wanted, placing a bounty on her head and publishing her photos in newspapers and online platforms to humiliate her into submission.

He also allegedly used his connections in law enforcement to access her private information, including her travel history and call records.

Karen insists she has sought help from various institutions, yet the justice system remains slow in addressing her plight.

“For seven years, I’ve endured emotional, physical, and financial abuse. I left the relationship to create a safe and happy space for my daughter, but our lives remain in danger,” she lamented.

Karen is now demanding justice, hoping her story will protect other women in similar situations.

“I refuse to be silenced. I will continue to fight for my daughter and ensure she grows up in a safe and loving environment,” she vowed.

She concluded with a strong message:

“Nana Kwadwo Adjei is simply an abuser. He uses his power, influence, and money to manipulate the system, but I will not stop fighting for my daughter. I am desperate, and I fear for my life, but I will not give up.”