Ghana Reforms the Law of Intestate Succession

Abstract

Four interrelated reforms in the private law of Ghana were promulgated by the ruling Provisional National Defence Council (P.N.D.C.) on 14 June, 1985: the Intestate Succession Law, 1985 (P.N.D.C.L. Ill); the Customary Marriage and Divorce (Registration) Law, 1985 (P.N.D.C.L. 112); the Administration of Estates (Amendment) Law, 1985 (P.N.D.C.L. 113); and the Head of Family (Accountability) Law, 1985 (P.N.D.C.L. 114). The Intestate Succession Law radically changes the law of inheritance, and constitutes the most extensive legislative reform ever made in the private law of Ghana. The Administration of Estates (Amendment) Law is a minor consequential enactment. The other two Laws are directed primarily to other issues, but bear on the Intestate Succession Law in minor aspects which will be mentioned later. This comment does not seek to provide a detailed textual analysis of the Law, but merely to consider its provenance and general significance in the development of Ghanaian property law.