Law, Culture and Women's Inheritance Rights in ... - Leitner Center

[FN315]. Interview with Ms. Beatrice Avorkliyah, Ho (June 5, 2001); Interview with Ms.
Bernice Segbawu, Ho (June 5, 2001); see also supra notes 214, 217 and accompanying text.
[FN316]. Interview with Ms. Beatrice Avorkliyah, Ho (June 5, 2001).
[FN317]. Interview with Ms. Bernice Segbawu, Ho (June 5, 2001).
[FN318]. Interview with Ms. Regina Papawu, Kpando (June 7, 2001).
[FN319]. Id.
[FN320]. Interview with Mr. Kwaku Frimpong, Director, Legal Aid Board, Ashanti Region,
Kumasi (June 5, 2001).
[FN321]. Justice Owusu recommended that the role of the customary successor in applying for
letters of administration should be minimized to make Law 111 effective. See Interview with
Justice Kwadwo Owusu, Community Tribunal Chairman, Accra (June 14, 2001). Mrs. Ellen
Sweetie Asiedu Akrofi Sowa, similarly recommended that the customary successor's role should
be made more of an observer role. See Interview with Mrs. Ellen A. Sweetie Asiedu Akrofi
Sowa, Regional Director, Legal Aid Board, Western Region, Takoradi (June 8, 2001).
[FN322]. See, e.g., Interview with Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Chief State Attorney, International
Law Division, Accra (June 11, 2001) (noting that the “law is not known by many of our womenfolk.
Our women-folk are in the main illiterate, semi-literate....”); Interview with Justice Okraku,
Circuit Court, Accra (June 12, 2001) (“I'm not so sure whether the women in the village, in the
rural area 1) whether they know about this law at all, 2) and if they know, whether they have the
courage to fight for their rights”); Interview with Mrs. Hilary Gbedemah, Legal Officer,
SNV/WiLDAF Legal Awareness Program, Ho (Feb. 16, 2001) (noting that biggest problem with
enforcement of Law 111 is lack of awareness of the law). Several articles have also commented
on the general lack of awareness of Law 111 in different parts of Ghana. See Mensa-Bonsu,
supra note 164, at 114, 126; Dankwa, supra note 197; Dowuona-Hammond, supra note 35, at
167.
[FN323]. Interview with Mrs. Shiela Minkah-Premo, Apex Lawconsult, Accra (June 4, 2001).
[FN324]. Interview with Arthur Henry Adusei, WiLDAF Legal Literacy Volunteer, Tarkwa
(June 6, 2001).
[FN325]. See Interview with Professor Takyiwah Manuh, University of Ghana, Legon (June 14,
2001). Professor Takyiwah Manuh conducted research on the application of the Law in the
Ashanti Region. She gave as an example that a man may die in a village and his family will
believe that they have a right to his home. But because they know of the law and because they
are good people, they will allow the widow to have one room in the home. However, under the
provisions of the law, she is in fact entitled to the entire house. See id.
[FN326]. Meeting with Community in Kwanfifi Village (June 6, 2001). Mrs. Yaa Amekudzi, the