Ghanaian private legal practitioner, lawyer Kofi Bekai has described the decision by Chad to fine those who reject marriage proposals as a ”bogus law”.
The Ghanaian lawyer argued this law makes no sense in the space of common law and can only exist in the cultural norms and practices of the group that passed it.
People who refuse a marriage proposal in Mangalmé in north-eastern Chad must now pay a fine, known as “amchilini”.
The region’s Higher Islamic Council ruled that the figure be between $23 (£18) and $39 for women and $15 for men.
According to the Council, its decision was inspired by the Quran.
Reacting to this, lawyer Koi Bekai stated that ”in simple terms, this is a bogus law”.
The lawyer, in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, added that this is a local law that falls under customary law and hence has no place in the common law.
He said,” this law has no basis in the common law. I think they passed this law under local law. It frowns on the fundamental rights of the people in the country. I don’t know what has informed their decision, but it is a bogus law”.
The lawyer also indicated that marriage should be a mutual agreement without any party being forced to marry the other party.
”You cannot force someone to marry another. It has no basis or a place the place of human rights.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
