What is the last stage of the Akan’s traditional divorce procedure?

Fellow Ghanaians, especially Akans, could you please help clarify this question about the final stage of the Akan’s procedure for divorce?

If a man or a woman decides to pull out of a traditional marriage for any reason, regardless of the number of years into the marriage, what is the final traditional rite to be performed to seal the divorce?

For all I know, the bride price in the form of a bottle of schnapps presented to the woman’s (bride) father on the day of their marriage must be returned to the husband.

However, my question is, who takes that bottle of schnapps back to the husband? Is it the wife going alone, or she should be accompanied by a member of her family, for example, brother, uncle, or a selected member from her family?

I know of situations where a member of the wife’s family could be charged to deliver the bottle of schnapps back to the husband or his family. Any of his family members, e.g. brother, sister, father, or mother can take it on his behalf if agreed by the husband, right?

Assuming the wife delivers the schnapps on her own unaccompanied by anyone from her family, could it be an acceptable traditional formality?

What, if her family does not know that she has officially divorced the husband by taken back the bottle of schnapps to him and something happens to her, say grave illness or death, will the husband be held to account? Will he not be treated as still married to her hence compelled to perform all the needed traditional requirements in that regard, although they are divorced?

Again, assuming the wife and husband have consensually decided to part ways, each going their separate ways, should the husband not notify the wife’s parents or family when she takes the marriage schnapps to the husband all alone?

What do the traditionalists advise on this?
I am learning and trying to clarify a sticking point.

Rockson

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