A legal analyst, Nana Kwasi Asuman-Frimpong, has urged the public to be wary of misleading information circulating on social media about marriage, especially in relation to cohabitation and separation in Ghana’s legal system. DEALING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA MISCO…
He explained that cohabitation can amount to a valid customary marriage once a man and woman agree to live together as husband and wife and are recognised as such by their families and community. A formal ceremony is not the only path to a legally binding customary marriage, he noted, adding that family acknowledgment, pregnancy accompanied by drinks to the woman’s family, and even the performance of certain family rites could establish marriage obligations. DEALING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA MISCO…
According to him, many young people unknowingly assume marital responsibilities through their actions, which later create legal complications. He advised those uncertain about their relationships to avoid behaviours that could be interpreted as marriage, such as cohabiting, attending family events as spouses or presenting themselves publicly as husband and wife. DEALING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA MISCO…
On the issue of separation, Asuman-Frimpong stressed that leaving a marriage or staying apart from a partner does not automatically constitute divorce under Ghanaian law. He said marriages contracted under the ordinance can only be dissolved by a court upon proof that the union has broken down beyond reconciliation through reasons such as adultery, desertion or conduct that makes continued cohabitation impossible. DEALING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA MISCO…
He urged married couples who wish to preserve their unions to avoid actions that undermine trust or make it difficult for partners to stay together, including infidelity, neglect and prolonged abandonment. DEALING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA MISCO…
Asuman-Frimpong emphasised that his statement forms part of a wider social education effort and not legal advice, noting ongoing public interest in marital laws as the nation awaits a major court judgment related to marriage controversies.
