Nana Konadu demands vigorous campaign on the law

According to her, many Ghanaians are ignorant about the content of the law and what they stand to benefit from the law.

The wife of the former president Jerry Rawlings, through her 31stDecember Women movement, played a crucial role in the adoption of an “Intestate Succession Law,” which provides a standard of inheritance for survivors of anyone dying without a will.

Traditionally, Ghanaian women had little or no rights of inheritance upon the death of their husbands, but the new law seeks to address such issues.

Speaking at a Gender Dialogue on the Intestate Succession Law in Accra, Mrs Rawlings expressed worry that many lacked education on the significance of the law.

"Some thought the sole aim of the law was to protect marriage under the ordinance...The PNDC Law 112, traditional and polygamous marriages were also registered and recognised accordingly, so as to benefit from Law 111. This is a very important hurdle because it became necessary to wage a major educational campaign to explain and educate the population on the PDNC Law 111 and Law 112, and how families can benefit from the application of these laws," the Former First Lady added.

The Intestate Succession Law which was drafted 30 years ago seeks to remove the anomalies with interstate succession and to provide a uniform law that will be applied throughout the country irrespective of inheritance system of the interstate and the type of marriages contracted.

There has recently been calls for amendment of the PDNC Law 112 to better protect the lives of women and children.

The Gender ministry has therefore put before parliament, a reviewed Intestate Bill which it wants parliament to pass before the end of this parliament.

The Gender Dialogue on the Intestate Succession Law in Accra discussed among others the need to increase women's participation in the highest levels of society.