This note examines the meaning of family, family law, and the scope of family law.
This note will briefly outline the sources of family law in Ghana. The sources to be outlined are the Constitution, 1992; the Marriages Act, 1884-1985 Cap. 127; the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1971 (Act 367); and the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560).
This note will discuss when various courts in Ghana will have jurisdiction to entertain a family law matter. The note will discuss the jurisdictions of the District Courts, Circuit Courts, the High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court in family law matters.
This note will discuss the meaning of marriage, its recognition as a special contract, and highlight the types of marriages recognised under Ghanaian law.
This note will discuss when there is a breach of promise to marry, types of breach of promise to marry, the remedy available to a man or woman when there is a breach of promise to marry, what a party must prove to succeed in an action for breach of promise to marry, and the defences available to the party in breach.