Betty Mould-Iddrisu Seeks Changes to PNDC Law 111

Former Attorney-General, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, is advocating for further reforms to the PNDC Law 111, asserting that despite its historical significance, the law requires substantial improvements.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on December 12, she acknowledged the law’s past utility but emphasized the need for greater effectiveness. “I would not say it has not been fit for purpose. What I would say is that there is still a lot of work to be done. In the implementation of the law, there is a lot of work to be done. There is a necessity to amend the law, and there is still the necessity for the judiciary, the traditional community, and the families themselves to know the ways forward,” she stated.

Madam Mould-Iddrisu voiced her concern over the continuous litigation of matters that were resolved decades ago. “It is sad that we are still going to court on the most basic issues, which were decided 40 years ago. Some of it is due to the way the law itself was crafted,” she explained.

She described PNDC Law 111 as a groundbreaking piece of legislation when it was first introduced. “Because at that time it was a revolutionary law. It came as a band-aid of law, and this guaranteed the fact that there would be accountability from the head of family. It plugged loopholes in the marriage of Mohammedan, and plugged several other loopholes in the traditional system,” she said.

However, the former Attorney-General stressed that the law’s progress has been insufficient. “But still it was not or has not been enough, and we are constantly calling upon the government to do more in this regard,” she added.

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