New bill to give equal share to women

A new intestate succession bill that will enable spouses to have equal share in properties no matter each person’s contribution to the acquisition of the wealth is to be put before parliament.

When passed women who normally are cheated in the sharing of properties will no longer have cause to worry, Nana Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender, Children, Social and Protection, said in Takoradi and Shama on Thursday.

Nana Oye said this when she paid a day’s working visit to the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis to interact with market women, fish mongers and students.

During interaction with leaders of market women at the Takoradi market circle, she said areas that would receive prime attention were majority representation of women in the Ghana Police Service, the armed forces and judiciary.

Nana Oye appealed to the women to show interest in matters championing the cause of women, particularly when the bills concerning them are laid before parliament for it to be dealt with expeditiously.

After listening to the concerns of the market traders, she pledged to use her office to help them transact their businesses in a harmonious atmosphere since traders contribute to economic growth.

The traders had pleaded among others that they should be allowed to discharge food stuffs from the hinterland at vantage points in the central market instead of faraway place at Apremdo for easy facilitation of the cargo.

They pleaded that they be granted loans to enhance their business transaction as well as be allowed to operate “night market’.

Fish mongers from the coastal communities, Abuesi, Aboadze and Shama enumerated their concerns ranging from irregular supply of premix fuel to the non-functioning of a cold store that had been idle for the past two and half years as that was hampering their fish business.

They called for the establishment of a fishing harbor that would facilitate their fish business as well as equipment for fish smoking.

The Gender Minister also met with students of Fijai Senior High School where she advised them against succumbing to peer pressure which would lead them to indulge in social vices.

She said they should take advantage of the opportunities available to study hard to brighten their future while using the information technology productively to enhance their knowledge.

At Essipon, inmates of the Correctional and Vocational Training Institute received from the Minister mosquito nets, bags and blankets.