News
Pass clearer property law for spouses …AWLA urges government
![Ms Effiba Amihere [middle] with some members of the Association after press conference Photo Okai Elizabeth.](https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Ms-Effiba-Amihere-middle-with-some-members-of-the-Association-after-press-conference-Photo-Okai-Elizabeth.jpg)
A group of female lawyers known as the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) is calling on the Parliament of Ghana to urgently pass a comprehensive law on spousal property rights to eliminate ambiguity and ensure fairness in divorce settlements.
Among the rights proposed were a clearer definition of marital property, formal recognition of non-monetary contributions, stronger guidelines for judges, improved enforcement of court orders and expanded access to legal aid for vulnerable spouses.
This, the group underlined, would cure the inconsistent court rulings that continue to leave many divorced spouses, particularly women, trapped in uncertainty, injustice and often left with nothing or something insignificant after years of marriage.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, the Executive Director of AWLA, Ms Effiba Amihere, said although the Supreme Court had over the years laid down important legal principles on the sharing of marital properties, conflicting judgments had created confusion and frustration for families seeking justice after divorce.
She explained that while some rulings recognised marriage as an economic partnership where both financial and non-financial contributions should be valued equally, others demanded proof of direct monetary contributions before property could be shared fairly.
This contradiction in the law, she said, had left many spouses vulnerable, especially women whose years of unpaid domestic work often went unrecognised in courtrooms.
“There are women who spend decades building homes, raising children, supporting businesses and sacrificing careers, only to walk away from marriages with little or nothing because their contribution cannot be measured in cash,” she stressed.
She argued that certain rulings appeared to rely on irrelevant considerations such as a spouse’s appearance, lifestyle or level of financial independence instead of established legal principles.
Ms Amihere, however, praised a landmark Supreme Court decision on July 17, 2025, which she described as a major step towards fairness and clarity in family law.
The ruling outlined important guidelines for courts in determining how marital properties should be shared after divorce and factors to be considered.
The ruling captured the duration of the marriage, the acquisition of property, financial contributions, pre-marital assets, debts, as well as non-financial contributions such as childcare, housekeeping, emotional support and domestic labour.
The judgment, she praised, was particularly significant because it openly acknowledged the economic value of unpaid domestic work, an area she said had long been ignored despite sustaining countless households across the country.
She maintained that Ghanaian courts had already affirmed that marriage was a joint enterprise and that contribution should not be reduced to money alone.
The organisation also appealed to the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary of Ghana and the Ghana Bar Association to support reforms aimed at protecting spouses and strengthening justice in family law cases.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
The Volta North Regional Police Command has secured a conviction of a 27 year old man Mohammed Rafiu for making unlawful entry and stealing church musical instruments at Hohoe in the Volta Region.
On June 5, 2026 the accused was observed near the Faith International Ministry Church carrying a sack containing various items rushing to hail a car.
The witnesses suspected his action and approached to check the content in the sack. The following items were found, One (1) Amplifier, One (1) equalizer, One (1) mixer and
Cross-over Machine all belonging to the church.
The accused was arrested and brought to the Hohoe Police District where he admitted to police to the charges leveled against him.
On Monday June 8, 2026 the accused was put before the Hohoe circuit cout where he pleaded guilty on two counts and was convicted and sentenced to three (3) years for unlawful entry and four (4) years of stealing.
Both sentences are to run concurrently.
The Volta North Regional Police Command has urged the general public to immediately report any suspected criminal activities to the Police for action.
News
Dome-Kwabenya MP, Ga East MCE tour flood-prone areas in the constituency, assure victims of support
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome-Kwabenya, Elikplim Akurugu, together with the Municipal Chief Executive for the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Edmund Agboh, and officials of the assembly, have toured several flood-prone communities in the constituency to identify the causes of recent flooding and inspect structures obstructing waterways.
The inspection made on the Monday, 8th June, 2026 formed part of efforts to assess the extent of the flooding, identify structures built on waterways, and develop plans for their demolition to prevent future occurrences.
Some areas visited during the tour included Christian Village, Sesemi, Abokobi Station, Falaku and the Pure Water area, all of which were affected by the recent floods that hit parts of the constituency.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, the MP expressed sadness over the destruction caused by the floods, noting that although no lives were lost, many residents had suffered significant property damage.
She attributed much of the flooding to human activities such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains and the construction of buildings on waterways and drainage channels.
The MP appealed to residents to change their attitudes towards sanitation and environmental management, stressing that the country did not have a deficit of prayers but rather an attitude deficit.
She assured residents that the assembly and its technical team would immediately begin work to address some of the drainage challenges identified during the tour.
Ms. Akurugu sympathised with residents whose homes and businesses were affected by the floods and assured them that efforts were being made to secure relief items to support them.
The Municipal Chief Executive of the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Edmund Agboh, said the inspection was intended to take stock of the causes of the recent flooding, which he described as unprecedented.
According to him, the assembly wants to be proactive by identifying and addressing the factors responsible for the flooding before the next rainy season.
Mr. Agboh blamed part of the problem on the increasing number of structures being erected on waterways and drainage paths, as well as the failure of some residents to comply with building regulations.
He disclosed that many of the structures identified during the inspection would be marked for demolition after the necessary procedures had been completed.
The MCE further announced plans to intensify inspections, particularly on weekends, explaining that some developers often undertake unauthorised construction works on Saturdays and Sundays when assembly officials are not at work.
He said the assembly would collaborate with neighbouring jurisdictions and deploy additional resources to improve drainage systems and reduce flooding in the municipality.
The MCE assured that the assembly will use the findings from the inspection to implement immediate and long-term measures aimed at reducing flooding and protecting lives and property in Dome-Kwabenya.
The Director of Works at the Ga East Municipal Assembly, Engineer Justine Glover, said the team inspected several critical locations along the Dakobi River and other flood-prone areas.
He explained that at Pantang Village, officials directed contractors to excavate and open blocked culvert outlets to allow the free flow of water during rainfall.
At Sesemi, he said the team observed extensive damage caused by upstream developments and the absence of proper drainage infrastructure.
Engineer Glover added that officials recommended dredging drainage channels at Abokobi Station to improve the performance of existing culverts.
He further revealed that some structures identified on waterways at Falaku had been earmarked for demolition as part of efforts to restore the natural flow of water.
In addition to the inspection, the MP and the MCE visited residents affected by the floods in the Pure Water area to offer words of encouragement and assure them of support.
The tour also revealed that many residents had constructed buildings on waterways, while several structures lacked the required building permits, a situation officials said had contributed significantly to the flooding experienced in the constituency.
By: Jacob Aggrey
