"Law does not prohibit women from standing surety"

Ekumfi Essarkyir (C/R), Oct. 1, GNA - The Mfantseman District Director of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Mr Samuel Frimpong Appiah has said that the country's laws do not debar women from standing surety for suspects in police custody. He said bail bonds are not immediately paid in cash but are presented in the form of valuable property to serve as an assurance that a suspect would be made available for trial.

Speaking at a forum at Ekumfi Essarkyir as part of activities marking the 10th anniversary of the CHRAJ, Mr Frimpong Appiah cautioned the public against paying monies to police personnel as condition for standing surety for suspects as such practices are dishonest. He announced that his outfit resolved 610 complaints since the establishment of the office in 1999, about 75 per cent of them being child maintenance cases.

He advised women to ensure that their marriages are legalised to enable them to inherit their husbands.

Mr. Frimpong Appiah said the interstate succession law (PNDC law 111) was not being enforced vigorously and urged Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) and other women groups to intensify education on it to prevent the exploitation of women.

He deplored the dehumanising treatment of women under the guise of widowhood and other outmoded rights.