By Professor Raymond Atuguba, the Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law, has underscored the importance of adopting a cultural approach to address Ghana’s current developmental and economic challenges.
In discussing cultural practices, ethics, and law following the marriage between 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo and 13-year-old Naa Okromo, Professor Atuguba argued that many of Ghana’s socio-economic challenges have deep-seated cultural roots that warrant careful examination.
During an interview with Selorm Adonoo on The Big Issue on Citi FM and Citi TV, he highlighted that the laws of the country prioritize customary law due to its foundational role in the lives of many citizens.
He supported his assertions by referencing Section 54 of the Courts Act and relevant sections of the 1992 Constitution.
“I personally believe that the only way out of Ghana’s current developmental mess is a cultural one. Part of the economic, social and political miracles of development that have happened around the world have been cultural.
“Section 54 of the Courts Act, when the good women and men sat to draft the Act, they recognised that a lot of our society was still culturally frictioned and so they provided in that Section that when disputes go to court and you want to settle them, the first thing you should do is try to settle them according to the personal law of the parties involved and the personal law for most of us is customary law.”
