IGED-Africa has intensified its advocacy on spousal property rights in Ghana, calling for greater public awareness, stronger legal protections, and accelerated legislative action to protect women’s economic security within marriage, divorce, separation, and inheritance contexts.
The call follows a recent training workshop in Accra 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 workshop brought together young women, legal practitioners, gender advocates, human rights experts, and other stakeholders to deepen understanding of spousal property rights and the legal frameworks available to protect women.
Speaking at the workshop, Ms Sylvia Horname Noagbesenu, Executive Director of IGED-Africa, highlighted the importance of strengthening awareness of African regional human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Maputo Protocol. She noted that while many people are familiar with international conventions on women’s rights, awareness of African Union mechanisms remains relatively limited.
The discussion also emphasized the importance of General Comment No. 6, adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in 2020, which clarifies the meaning of equitable distribution of property under Article 7 of the Maputo Protocol. The General Comment recognizes both financial and non-financial contributions made by spouses, including unpaid domestic work, childcare, and household management.
Participants called for increased public education, stronger legal protections, and renewed efforts toward the passage of comprehensive spousal property rights legislation in Ghana, as required under Article 22 of the 1992 Constitution.
IGED-Africa remains committed to advancing gender equality, human rights, and economic justice through research, advocacy, capacity building, and strategic partnerships across Africa.
Read the full Ghana News Agency feature here: Experts urge young women to know and defend Spousal Property Rights
