Takoradi, Nov. 27, GNA-A two-day workshop on
Leadership and Human Rights for Partners in
Consensual Unions has opened in Takoradi with a call
on people in consensual relationship to properly get
married to enable them enjoy the protection under
the country's marital laws.
Making the call at the workshop over the weekend,
Miss Ama Kpetigo, a Legal officer of the Women in
Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF) said
consensual unions are not recognised by the
country's marital laws.
The workshop was jointly organised by the (WILDAF)
and the Rights and Voices Initiative (RAVI) for 20
women in consensual unions.
She said people in such relationships cannot claim
properties when their partner dies or the union
breaks up, and for this reason, they should not
register their own properties in the name of their
partners.
Miss Kpetigo said the workshop was to sensitise the
participants about their rights as women, laws on
marriage, interstate succession law, domestic
violence and the legal implication of their
relationships.
She said some examples of consensual unions are "mpena
twi", having a concubine, forced marriages and
betrothals.
Miss Kpetigo said a survey carried out by WILDAF in
the Western Region revealed that about 50 per cent
of consensual relationships are not formalised
because of breach of promise to marry, expensive
marriage ceremonies while some females realised too
late that their partners were already married.
GNA
