Dear GhanaWeb: Who deserves the title? The legal son or the illegitimate son

Dear GhanaWeb,

The Ferguson family consists of five members: my mother, father, and three children, with me as the eldest.

My father, who has passed away, was a hardworking man who passed his skills on to his children.

In our family tradition, the first son assumes the role of the head of the household after the father's death. This position involves managing family businesses and taking care of the family. We also wait to hold a ceremony before burying the head of the family.

During the induction ceremony one Sunday afternoon, two unfamiliar individuals interrupted. I had never met them, and I could tell my mother and the rest of the family were surprised by their presence.

The strangers introduced themselves, with the woman claiming she was there to claim what rightfully belonged to her son. My mother was shocked as she had just learned about her husband's affair and the son he had with another woman.

To prove her claim, the woman showed us a mark on her son's chin that matched my late father's. She also presented a photo from her son's christening, which my father had attended. How she knew about our family tradition remains a mystery.

The woman argued that since her son was born before me, he deserved the title of the man of the house.

My mother disagreed, asserting that she was the legitimate wife of my late father and that I should lead the family.

This dispute has plagued the Ferguson family for a year now. My father remains in the mortuary and is unable to rest in peace until this conflict is resolved.

How can we navigate this challenging situation?

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