Advocacy Groups hold workshop on Interstate Succession Laws

A workshop to sensitise women's advocacy groups, security personnel, religious organizations and Heads of Departments on the Interstate Succession Law was held on Monday at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

It was organised by the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) with support from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).

The workshop was aimed at interpreting the Succession law, (PNDCL 111) to participants and find out other workable measures to let the ordinary Ghanaian understand the processes, involved in filing cases for redress.

Opening the workshop, Mr. Rockson Ayine Bukari, Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said gender issues have been one of the main concerns of the government since it came into power.

He added that it was government's desire to integrate women in the development process at all levels through the promotion of equality between women and their male counterparts.

Mr Bukari said the creation of the Women and Children Affairs Ministry is one of the pragmatic policies government has taken to create access to the country's resources by both men and women.

The MCE appealed to AWLA to make its operations felt in the region, and appealed to women pursuing higher education to enter into the law profession so that they could defend the rights of their colleagues.

He urged AWLA to consider land litigation as a topical issue for discussion, and said the phenomenon was causing a lot of discomfort to the Assembly, adding that they should as legal experts, sensitize the participants on the effects of making unreasonable demands for compensation on lands acquired for public institutions.

The Executive Director of AWLA, Madam Edna Kumah, said AWLA is aimed at enhancing the status of women in Africa through information sharing and lobbying for gender equality through legislative reforms, public education and advocacy.

A member of the Association, Mrs. Abbah Poku, who spoke on the interstate succession law, advised men against polygamy, which she said 'creates anarchy and disintegrate families after the man's death'.

She said there were different forms of marriages one could take and still be legalized, and encouraged couples to register their marriages to avoid confusion in future.