Young women lured into phony marriages seek compensation

More Ghanaian young women are reporting at the Accra office of FIDA Ghana to seek compensation from their partners upon dissolution of their marriages. The Communication Officer of FIDA, Mrs. Susan Aryeetey, told Public Agenda in an interview in Accra that most of the Ghanaian men particularly, those domiciled abroad who promise to marry Ghanaian girls, only turn out to disappoint them eventually. Some of these men after engaging the girls leave them for years. “I must state that majority of the young Ghanaian women are unfortunately, falling victim because of poverty. They easily accept to marry the men due to their belief that everything is rosy out there”, Mrs. Aryeetey stated. In 2006, a total of 1,875 cases were reported at the Accra office of FIDA. Out of the number, 760 were fresh cases and 1,115 old cases, (those being handled before the year began). Marital cases recorded 172, while maintenance/custody was 128. Estate cases stood at 60, compensation 18 and legal advice 99. A total of 1,823 cases were recorded in 2005, indicating 710 new cases and 1,113 old cases. A breakdown shows that marital cases recorded were 230 and 162 of maintenance cases. Madam Aryeetey recalled that formerly the unit was recording high child maintenance cases caused as a result of divorce and break up of marriages. “When there is a marriage break up the men refuse to cater for the children. They see it as a form of punishment to the women. But this is not right because the constitution obliges parents to be responsible.” However, she said the trend is changing and attributed it to intensification of legal rights education, adding, “Perhaps more women have become empowered economically and are able to support their wards.” She continued, “Through our intervention we realized that child maintenance continue to be a problem outside the capital as it seems that the men there have no good jobs.” These she explained are the dynamics out of the urban areas, thus more youth migrating to Accra in search of jobs. She stated that when women visit FIDA they are advised to engage in economic activities to complement the efforts of the men to avoid streetism. On marital cases, she said this often happens when there is another woman in the picture and the man decides to break up with his wife. “The few men who seek a dissolution of marriage often accuse their women of adultery.”Not surprisingly, women dominate in majority of cases reported at FIDA. “Practically, 99.9% of our clients are women, with estate cases topping as the third highest cases. She announced that FIDA has begun a support system, “Sister Watch Groups” in the northern region so that women can fall on their fellow women to accompany them to the law enforcement agencies to ensure their rights.“Here, there is a big challenge due to attitudinal and cultural values. Socially, the women have accepted to always be in the background.” Like any institution, FIDA faces certain challenges including lack of funding and personnel (lawyers) to handle their cases on voluntary basis. As a result, FIDA is unable to enforce agreements or follow cases to the latter. “We need to have a victim support fund to help women pursue justice to the core, support them in the upkeep of their children, as transportation and court fees pose a drain on the women’s finances. People must help the centre, otherwise we will not be able to pursue justice,” she appealed. She stated that FIDA also needs a full time lawyer who will focus solely on its cases. We have sent out proposals for help to encourage more women to pursue their cases to their logical conclusions.” She emphasised that FIDA should be empowered to assist poor people pursue justice since services rendered by FIDA Ghana are free except a token paid for file and stationery. In her opinion, money is an essential ingredient which determines access to justice. Sadly, majority of the people, particularly, women are living below poverty line. She suggested that poverty reduction measures should aim at providing leveled incomes for both sexes. Women in rural areas especially need to be equipped with income generating activities. FIDA Ghana was set up as an affiliate of the International Federation of Women Lawyers by a group of dedicated Ghanaian women lawyers in 1974 to improve the lot of women and children and strengthen them in the over all development process of Ghana. Ghana began its legal aid programme in 1985 Services are provided in the area of counseling, alternative dispute resolution and court representation in matters involving maintenance and custody of children, paternity issues and child marriages.