Widows in Upper East Region cannot inherit property

Bolgatanga, Nov. 16, GNA - Mrs. Betty Ayageba, Director of the Widows and Orphans Movements in Upper East Region, a non-governmental organisation has expressed dissatisfaction at the traditional practice that deny females the right to inherit land.

She said majority of widows in the region have been ejected from landed properties belonging to their late husbands as a result of the practice.

Mrs. Ayageba made this known at a consultative forum in Bolgatanga, at the weekend, organised by Abantu for Development, an advocacy organisation working to promote gender equality.

The forum, which was on the theme: "Promoting Gender Responsiveness in Disaster Risk Management/Reduction," was aimed at getting stakeholders working in the area of disaster management especially climatic change to get women involved in the exercise since they were the most vulnerable in times of disaster.

She said the affected women were not able to farm or undertake any income generating activities to fend for themselves and their families.

Mrs. Ayageba said there were certain cultural practices that seriously undermine the fundamental human rights of women and led to serious health implications.

She said in some instances widows were compelled to marry close relatives of their deceased husbands to continue procreation.

Mrs. Ayageba said the situation was not different in the Northern and Upper West regions and stressed the need for government to come out with policies to prevent the dispossession of widows.

Government must also increase its micro credit loan facility to women and empower them to venture into agricultural production.

Mr. Epsona Ayamga, Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive said there was the need for the government and other stakeholders to involve more women in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes.

He urged the Widows and Orphans Ministry and other women bodies in the region to form viable groups to access credit facilities from the Municipal Assembly, especially for agricultural purposes.

GNA