<p><strong>Civil society leaders, legal experts, and women&#8217;s rights advocates gathered in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, to begin a critical two-day workshop aimed at advancing family law reforms and promoting women’s rights in Ghana.</strong></p>
<p>The event, held from September 10 to 11, 2025, at the Alisa Hotel, is organized by the Initiative for Gender Equality and Development in Africa (IGED-Africa) in collaboration with Equality Now and the Solidarity of African Women’s Rights Network (SOAWR).</p>
<p>It seeks to strengthen national advocacy efforts for legal reforms that address longstanding gender inequalities, especially in family law.</p>
<p>The workshop comes at a pivotal moment following the recent passage of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024 (Act 1121).</p>
<p>It aims to consolidate civil society efforts and push for the passage of the Spousal Property Rights Bill and the Intestate Succession Amendment Bill, both of which have faced significant delays despite their importance to protecting women’s rights in marriage, inheritance, and property ownership.</p>
<p>In her opening remarks, Sylvia Horname Noagbesenu, Executive Director of IGED-Africa, welcomed participants and underscored the relevance of the workshop.</p>
<p>She emphasized that family law issues are not merely technical legal matters for lawyers alone but matters that affect the daily lives and dignity of every Ghanaian.</p>
<p>She explained that IGED-Africa’s work has its roots in addressing systemic issues around property rights, land ownership, and inheritance, and stressed the need for collective action to resolve these ongoing challenges.</p>
<p>Sylvia noted that IGED-Africa has aligned itself with continental platforms such as the Solidarity of African Women’s Rights Network and the African Family Law Network, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in achieving sustainable reforms.</p>
<p>She praised the participants for prioritizing this cause and reiterated the significance of this workshop as an opportunity to share experiences, develop new strategies, and build strong partnerships to advocate for gender-sensitive laws in Ghana.</p>
<p>Esther Waweru, Senior Legal Advisor at Equality Now, followed with a compelling address that highlighted the constitutional and human rights obligations Ghana has yet to meet.</p>
<p>She pointed to Article 22 of the 1993 Constitution, which mandated Parliament to enact legislation on spousal property rights “as soon as practicable,” noting with concern that over three decades later, that promise remains unfulfilled.</p>
<p>She described this delay as a violation of women’s rights and a reflection of deeper structural and social resistance to gender equality.</p>
<p>Esther also drew attention to the gaps in the current intestate succession legislation that continue to disadvantage widows and children, especially in cases where customary and religious laws override statutory protections.</p>
<p>While congratulating the Affirmative Action Bill Coalition for their tireless advocacy leading to the passage of the Affirmative Action Act 2024, she urged participants not to lose momentum and posed several key questions to guide the two-day deliberations.</p>
<p>Among them were how to ensure effective implementation of the new law, how to confront resistance to reform, and how civil society can better coordinate efforts to push for legislative progress in areas still lagging.</p>
<p>The workshop featured several in-depth sessions led by prominent experts and advocates.</p>
<p>Mrs. Sheila Minka-Premo, Convenor of the Affirmative Action Law Coalition, took participants through the content of the Affirmative Action Act, highlighting both the successes achieved so far and the challenges that remain.</p>
<p>She outlined key implementation structures and the role of civil society in ensuring the law leads to real change in the lives of Ghanaian women.</p>
<p>Lois Aduamoah-Addo, Program Manager of Women in Law and Development in Africa, Ghana (WiLDAF), presented on Ghana’s intestate succession law and the proposed amendments still pending in Parliament.</p>
<p>She explained how the current legal framework continues to expose women to discrimination, particularly when customary norms are applied in the absence of statutory protections.</p>
<p>Her presentation generated active discussion among participants, many of whom shared stories from the communities they work with, where widows are often left destitute due to weak inheritance laws.</p>
<p>In a second presentation, Mrs. Minka-Premo addressed the Spousal Property Bill, tracing its long and difficult legislative journey and calling attention to the societal and political factors that have stalled its passage.</p>
<p>She reiterated the urgent need for this law, emphasizing that it is not just a women’s issue, but one of justice, fairness, and constitutional responsibility.</p>
<p>Participants echoed her sentiments and called for renewed public education and advocacy to press Parliament to act.</p>
<p>Throughout the day, the workshop fostered an environment of open dialogue, where participants discussed the disconnect between legal promises and the lived realities of women, the tension between statutory and customary law, and the impact of religious interpretations that often marginalize women.</p>
<p>There was a strong consensus on the need for unified advocacy and for framing family law reform not just as a legal necessity, but a human rights imperative.</p>
<p>There was also an acknowledgment of the importance of the Maputo Protocol as a guiding framework. Multiple references were made to Articles 6, 7, 20, and 21 of the Protocol, which call on states to eliminate discrimination within marriage and family relations.</p>
<p>Participants expressed frustration that despite Ghana being a signatory, some of the fundamental legal protections required under the Protocol remain unrealized in national legislation.</p>
<p>The workshop was also an opportunity to appreciate the support of long-standing partners like the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), who were recognized not just as funders but as strategic allies in the broader movement for women’s rights and family law reform across the continent.</p>
<p>As the day closed, it was evident that the participants were not only energized but committed to driving forward a coordinated national action plan.</p>
<p>The second day of the workshop, on Thursday, September 11, 2025, is expected to build on these conversations by identifying key advocacy priorities, formulating actionable strategies, and strengthening civil society coalitions to push for the passage and implementation of all pending laws.</p>
<p>This workshop marks a significant step in Ghana’s journey toward a fairer and more inclusive legal system.</p>
<p>It signals to both policymakers and the public that family law reform is not a niche issue—it is central to gender equality, justice, and national development.</p>
<p>As stakeholders continue deliberations, there is a collective sense that the time to act is now, and that Ghana’s women have waited long enough for laws that protect their rights and affirm their dignity.</p>