Young women in Ghana have been encouraged to actively learn, understand, and defend their spousal property rights as part of broader efforts to strengthen women’s economic security and access to justice.
The call was made during a training workshop organized by IGED-Africa on “Property Rights of Spouses in Ghana through the Lens of the Maputo Protocol and General Comment No. 6 of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.” The session brought together young women, legal practitioners, gender advocates, and human rights experts to examine the legal frameworks that protect women in matters of marriage, divorce, inheritance, and property ownership.
The workshop highlighted the importance of the Maputo Protocol, one of Africa’s leading instruments for the protection of women’s rights, and General Comment No. 6, which clarifies how equitable distribution of property should recognize both financial and non-financial contributions made within marriage.
Speakers emphasized that unpaid domestic work, childcare, household management, care work, and emotional support are meaningful contributions that must be recognized when determining property rights. Participants were also encouraged to document their contributions, understand available legal processes, and seek legal support where necessary.
The engagement formed part of IGED-Africa’s continued advocacy to promote gender equality, women’s economic justice, and stronger public awareness of rights-based protections under national, regional, and international law.
Read the full Ghana News Agency report here: Experts urge young women to know and defend Spousal Property Rights
