SIAKON MEDIA

Ho, May 3, GNA - Justice Sule Gbadegbe, Supreme Court Judge, on Friday said harmonization is not the prime purpose of the current process of ascertaining and codifying customary laws in Ghana.

He said the job now is to see what was operating on the ground, observing that "communal and geographical variations made customary law what it is".

Justice Gbadegbe was reacting to concerns raised about the differences in the list of items needed for customary marriages within the Asogli Traditional Area, at a validation meeting, attended by chiefs, queens and elders of chieftains in the area, held at Ho.

It was under auspices of the Ascertainment and Codification of Customary Law Project (ACLP) of the National House of Chiefs and the Law Reform Commission, with support from the German Development Agency (GTZ).

Justice Gbadegbe, member of the Law Reform Commission on the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) of the Project stressed that the time for harmonization had not come yet.

Togbe Kwaku Ayim IV, Paramount Chief of the Ziavi Traditional Area, who chaired the meeting, wanted some harmonization, based on contributions of participating chiefs during an open forum.

The indication was that while the items had been doubled in some areas to reflect 'current economic circumstances,' other traditional leaders have had the items trimmed to encourage hordes of eligible bachelors to get formally married.

The project, tackling customary law on land and the family commenced in 2006.

A background document made available to the media said the "project represents the very first initiative taken towards the fulfillment of the constitutional mandate given the National House of Chiefs, to undertake the progressive study, interpretation and codification of customary law with a view to evolving in appropriate cases, a unified system of rules of customary law in Article 272(b) of the 1992 constitution".

A total of 20 traditional areas, two from each of the 10 regions of Ghana are participating in the current stage of the project.

The workshop heard reports of research teams, which went round communities within the area, discussed it, made additions and subtractions, for further attention of experts on the project before codification.      

GNA

  Friday, July 02, 2010

Bolgatanga, July 2, GNA - Government has assured senior citizens that it was doing everything possible to make their living conditions better.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo, said   this when the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) hosted senior citizens from all the nine districts in the Region to a reception at the Residency at Bolgatanga on Thursday to mark Republic Day.

He said it was in this direction that government had introduced a three-tier pension scheme to enhance pensions for retired workers.

He added that steps were being taken to decentralize the processing and payment of pensions at the regional levels to eliminate the hustle and bustle that pensioners go through to access their money.

Mr Woyongo said the government had noted with concern the struggle that many pensioners go through and that is why it was continuing with the free medical care for people who are 70 years and above.

Mr Woyongo said statistics showed that Ghana was experiencing a rising ageing population that stands at about 7.2 percent and that government was promulgating an ageing policy for consideration and approval by cabinet.

He appealed to the senior citizens to contribute to the region's 50th anniversary celebration scheduled to take place this year.   

Sixty senior citizens received half a piece of piece of cloth each and 30 Ghana cedis.   

The guests thanked government for recognizing them and called on the youth to emulate what they had achieved for the development of the country.

GNA

NCCE: Ghanaians should be abreast of 1992 Constitution

Baifikrom (C/R), May 7, GNA - The Central Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Isaac Kweku Sam has asked Ghanaians to be abreast of the 1992 Constitution to be alive to their rights and responsibilities.

He was speaking at this year's annual Constitution Week celebration at Baifikrom in the Central Region, on the theme: "Enhancing constitutionalism through Effective Citizens Participation for Good Governance."

Mr Sam appealed to the citizenry to acquaint themselves of the supreme laws of the country to facilitate the discharge of their obligations responsibly.

Mr Henry Kweku Hayfron, Mfantseman Municipal Chief Executive observed that it was against the tenets of the Constitution for women and their offspring be driven away from their matrimonial home after the death of their  husbands.

He said men should not shirk their responsibilities towards the maintenance of their children, adding:  "Children have rights to education, clothing, food and shelter."

Ms Margaret Mary Sackey, Municipal Director of NCCE said the theme for the celebration enjoined Ghanaians to view the constitution as a national document, which must be studied and protected.

She appealed to Ghanaians to participate in the work of the Constitution Review Committee to ensure that the outcome of the exercise reflect the views and aspirations of Ghanaians.

GNA