Ghana To Recognize Cohabitation As Marriage

Men who have failed to formalize their relationships with their companions could soon see their properties shared with such women even if they failed to perform the necessary marriage rites as two new bills have been presented before, the Property Rites of Spouses Bill and the Intestate Succession Bill. The bills are aimed to ensure that men and women who may have acquired property in the course of their relationship would have such properties divided at the dissolution of the union.

A key provision of the Bills, which deals with Cohabitation, states that a man and woman who live together for five continuous years are regarded as married in the eyes of the law, and are enjoined by the provisions of married persons.