<table>
<tr>
                                            <td vAlign="top" align="left" width="1295" height="64">
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">&nbsp;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">&nbsp;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ACT, 1971 (ACT 
                                              367)</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              PART I&#8212;DIVORCE</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              1. Petition for divorce</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              2. Proof of breakdown of marriage</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              3. Adultery of respondent</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              4. Unreasonable behaviour of 
                                              respondent</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              5. Desertion of respondent</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              6. Consent of respondent</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              7. Failure of parties to live as 
                                              man and wife</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              8. Promotion of reconciliation</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              9. Restriction on petitions within 
                                              two years of marriage</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              10. Petitioner's conduct no bar to 
                                              divorce</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              11. Respondent entitled to divorce 
                                              without cross-petition</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              12. Alleged adulterer may be 
                                              joined</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              PART II&#8212;OTHER MATRIMONIAL CAUSES</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              13. Nullity</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              14. Children of annulled marriages</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              15. Presumption of death and 
                                              dissolution of marriage</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              16. Neglect to maintain spouse or 
                                              child</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              17. Unreasonable conduct towards 
                                              spouse or child</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              PART III&#8212;FINANCIAL PROVISION, 
                                              CHILD CUSTODY AND OTHER RELIEF</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              18. General powers</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              19. Financial provision for spouse</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              20. Property settlement</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              21. Conveyance of title</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              22. Custody and financial 
                                              provision for children</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              23. Security for payment</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              24. Payment of costs</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              25. Orders of restraint, etc.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              26. Orders relating to assets</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              27. Modification of financial 
                                              provision, custody and support</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              28. Financial provision to cease 
                                              on re-marriage or death</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              29. Orders terminating on child 
                                              reaching majority</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              30. Failure to comply with order 
                                              to make financial provision</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              PART IV&#8212;JURISDICTION</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              31. General matrimonial 
                                              jurisdiction</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              32. Domicile of married women</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              33. Additional jurisdiction 
                                              relating to financial provision</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              34. Additional jurisdiction 
                                              relating to child custody</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              35. Choice of law</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              36. Recognition of foreign decrees</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              PART V&#8212;MISCELLANEOUS AND 
                                              SUPPLEMENTARY</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              37. Decrees to be final</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              38. Bequest to divorced spouse to 
                                              be invalid</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              39. Privacy of proceedings</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              40. Transfer of undefended actions</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              41. Application of this Act</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              42. Abolition of right to claim 
                                              restitution of conjugal rights</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              43. Interpretation</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              44. Enactments ceasing to have 
                                              effect.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">&nbsp;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              THE THREE HUNDRED AND 
                                              SIXTY-SEVENTH</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center">&nbsp;</p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center"></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              ACT OF THE PARLIAMENT OF THE 
                                              REPUBLIC OF GHANA</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              ENTITLED</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ACT, 1971</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              AN ACT to provide for matrimonial 
                                              causes and for other matters 
                                              connected therewith.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              DATE OF ASSENT: 7th September, 
                                              1971</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              BE IT ENACTED by the President and 
                                              the National Assembly in this 
                                              present Parliament assembled as 
                                              follows:&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              PART I&#8212;DIVORCE</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 1&#8212;Petition for Divorce.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) A petition for divorce may be 
                                              presented to the court by either 
                                              party to a marriage.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) The sole ground for granting a 
                                              petition for divorce shall be that 
                                              the marriage has broken down 
                                              beyond reconciliation.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 2&#8212;Proof of Breakdown of 
                                              Marriage.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) For the purpose of showing 
                                              that the marriage has broken down 
                                              beyond reconciliation the 
                                              petitioner shall satisfy the court 
                                              of one or more of the following 
                                              facts:&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) that the respondent has 
                                              committed adultery and that by 
                                              reason of such adultery the 
                                              petitioner finds it intolerable to 
                                              live with the respondent; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) that the respondent has 
                                              behaved in such a way that the 
                                              petitioner cannot reasonably be 
                                              expected to live with the 
                                              respondent; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (c) that the respondent has 
                                              deserted the petitioner for a 
                                              continuous period of at least two 
                                              years immediately preceding the 
                                              presentation of the petition; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (d) that the parties to the 
                                              marriage have not lived as man and 
                                              wife for a continuous period of at 
                                              least two years immediately 
                                              preceding the presentation of the 
                                              petition and the respondent 
                                              consents to the grant of a decree 
                                              of divorce; provided that such 
                                              consent shall not be unreasonably 
                                              withheld, and where the Court is 
                                              satisfied that it has been so 
                                              withheld, the Court may grant a 
                                              petition for divorce under this 
                                              paragraph notwithstanding the 
                                              refusal; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (e) that the parties to the 
                                              marriage have not lived as man and 
                                              wife for a continuous period of at 
                                              least five years immediately 
                                              preceding the presentation of the 
                                              petition; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (f) that the parties to the 
                                              marriage have, after diligent 
                                              effort, been unable to reconcile 
                                              their differences.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) On a petition for divorce it 
                                              shall be the duty of the court to 
                                              inquire, so far as is reasonable, 
                                              into the facts alleged by the 
                                              petitioner and the respondent.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (3) Notwithstanding that the court 
                                              finds the existence of one or more 
                                              of the facts specified in 
                                              subsection (1), the court shall 
                                              not grant a petition for divorce 
                                              unless it is satisfied, on all the 
                                              evidence, that the marriage has 
                                              broken down beyond reconciliation.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 3&#8212;Adultery of Respondent.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Where with a view to 
                                              reconciliation the parties to the 
                                              marriage have lived with each 
                                              other as man and wife for a period 
                                              or periods after it became known 
                                              to the petitioner that the 
                                              respondent had since the 
                                              celebration of the marriage, 
                                              committed adultery, then&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) if the length of that period 
                                              or of those periods together was 
                                              six months or less, their living 
                                              with each other as man and wife 
                                              during that period or those 
                                              periods shall be disregarded in 
                                              determining whether for the 
                                              purposes of section 2 (1) (a) the 
                                              petitioner finds it intolerable to 
                                              live with the respondent; but</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) if the length of that period 
                                              or those periods together exceeded 
                                              six months, the petitioner shall 
                                              not be entitled to rely on that 
                                              adultery for the purposes of 
                                              section 2 (1) (a).</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 4&#8212;Unreasonable Behaviour 
                                              of Respondent.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              For the purposes of section 2 (1) 
                                              (b), in determining whether the 
                                              petitioner cannot reasonably be 
                                              expected to live with the 
                                              respondent, the court shall 
                                              disregard any period or periods 
                                              not exceeding six months in the 
                                              aggregate during which the parties 
                                              to the marriage lived with each 
                                              other as man and wife after the 
                                              date of the occurrence of the 
                                              final incident relied on by the 
                                              petitioner and proved to the court 
                                              in support of his allegation.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 5&#8212;Desertion of Respondent.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) For the purposes of section 2 
                                              (1) (c), in determining whether 
                                              the period for which the 
                                              respondent has deserted petitioner 
                                              has been continuous, the court 
                                              shall disregard any period or 
                                              periods not exceeding six months 
                                              in the aggregate during which the 
                                              parties resumed living as man and 
                                              wife.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) For the purposes of section 2 
                                              (1) (c) the court may treat a 
                                              period of desertion as having 
                                              continued at a time when the 
                                              deserting party was incapable of 
                                              continuing the necessary intention 
                                              if the evidence before the court 
                                              is such that, had that party not 
                                              been so incapable, the court would 
                                              have inferred that his desertion 
                                              continued at that time.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 6&#8212;Consent of Respondent.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) For the purposes of section 2 
                                              (1) (d) the court must be 
                                              satisfied that a consent to 
                                              divorce has been given by the 
                                              respondent only after the 
                                              respondent has been given such 
                                              information as will enable him to 
                                              understand the consequences of his 
                                              consent.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) Where the only fact specified 
                                              in section 2 upon which the 
                                              petitioner relies in support of 
                                              his petition is that mentioned in 
                                              section 2 (1) (d), the court may, 
                                              on application by the respondent 
                                              at any time before the decree is 
                                              made, dismiss the proceedings if 
                                              it is satisfied that the 
                                              petitioner misled the respondent, 
                                              intentionally or unintentionally, 
                                              about any matter which the 
                                              respondent took into account in 
                                              deciding to consent to the grant 
                                              of a decree.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 7&#8212;Failure of Parties to 
                                              Live as Man and Wife.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              For the purposes of section 2 (1) 
                                              (d) and (e), in determining 
                                              whether the period for which the 
                                              parties to a marriage have not 
                                              lived as man and wife has been 
                                              continuous, the court shall 
                                              disregard any period or periods 
                                              not exceeding six months in the 
                                              aggregate during which the parties 
                                              resumed living as man and wife.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 8&#8212;Promotion of 
                                              Reconciliation.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) On the hearing of a petition 
                                              for divorce, the petitioner or his 
                                              counsel shall inform the court of 
                                              all efforts made by or on behalf 
                                              of the petitioner, both before and 
                                              after the commencement of the 
                                              proceedings, to effect a 
                                              reconciliation.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) If at any stage of the 
                                              proceedings for divorce it appears 
                                              to the court that there is a 
                                              reasonable possibility of 
                                              reconciliation, the court may 
                                              adjourn the proceedings for a 
                                              reasonable time to enable attempts 
                                              to be made to effect a 
                                              reconciliation, and may direct 
                                              that the parties to the marriage, 
                                              together with representatives of 
                                              their families or any conciliator 
                                              appointed by the court and 
                                              mutually agreeable to the parties, 
                                              attempt to effect a 
                                              reconciliation.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (3) When proceedings are resumed 
                                              after an adjournment under 
                                              subsection (2), the conciliator, 
                                              or if no conciliator has been 
                                              appointed, counsel for the 
                                              petitioner, shall make a report to 
                                              the court of the result of the 
                                              adjournment, and the report shall 
                                              be limited to a statement that the 
                                              parties have been reconciled or 
                                              have not been reconciled or that 
                                              more time is needed to effect a 
                                              reconciliation.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (4) Evidence of statements or 
                                              other actions of the parties or 
                                              their representatives in 
                                              connection with attempts at 
                                              reconciliation under subsection 
                                              (2) shall not be admissible in 
                                              court in the divorce proceedings.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 9&#8212;Restriction on Petitions 
                                              Within Two Years of Marriage.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) Subject to subsection (2), no 
                                              petition for divorce shall be 
                                              presented to the court within two 
                                              years from the date of the 
                                              marriage.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) The court may, on application, 
                                              allow the presentation of a 
                                              petition for divorce within two 
                                              years from the date of the 
                                              marriage on the ground of 
                                              substantial hardship suffered by 
                                              the petitioner or depravity on the 
                                              part of the respondent.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (3) In determining the application 
                                              under subsection (2) the court 
                                              shall have regard to the interest 
                                              of any child of the household and 
                                              to the question whether there is a 
                                              reasonable possibility of 
                                              reconciliation between the 
                                              parties.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (4) If it appears to the court 
                                              that leave under subsection (2) 
                                              was obtained by the petitioner by 
                                              any misrepresentation or 
                                              concealment of the nature of the 
                                              case, the court may dismiss the 
                                              petition, without prejudice to any 
                                              petition which may be brought 
                                              after the expiration of the period 
                                              of two years from the date of that 
                                              marriage upon the same, or 
                                              substantially the same, facts as 
                                              those proved in support of the 
                                              dismissed petition.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (5) This section shall not be 
                                              deemed to prohibit the 
                                              presentation of a petition based 
                                              upon matters which occurred within 
                                              two years from the date of the 
                                              marriage.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 10&#8212;Petitioner's Conduct No 
                                              Bar to Divorce.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Without prejudice to any provision 
                                              of this Act which empowers or 
                                              requires the court to dismiss a 
                                              petition for divorce, nothing in 
                                              any enactment or rule of law shall 
                                              be taken as empowering or 
                                              requiring the court to dismiss 
                                              such a petition on the ground of 
                                              collusion between the parties in 
                                              connection with the presentation 
                                              or prosecution of the petition or 
                                              on the ground of any conduct on 
                                              the part of the petitioner.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 11&#8212;Respondent Entitled to 
                                              Divorce Without Cross-Petition.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              If in any proceedings for divorce 
                                              the respondent alleges against the 
                                              petitioner and proves the facts 
                                              required by sections 1 (2) and 2 
                                              (1), the court may in those 
                                              proceedings give to the respondent 
                                              the relief to which the respondent 
                                              would have been entitled if the 
                                              respondent had presented a 
                                              separate petition seeking that 
                                              relief.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 12&#8212;Alleged Adulterer may 
                                              be Joined.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              On a petition for divorce in which 
                                              adultery is alleged, the person 
                                              alleged to have committed adultery 
                                              with the party to the marriage may 
                                              be, but need not be, made a party 
                                              to the proceedings.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              PART II&#8212;OTHER MATRIMONIAL CAUSES</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 13&#8212;Nullity.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) Any person may present a 
                                              petition to the court for a decree 
                                              annulling his marriage on the 
                                              ground that it is by law void or 
                                              voidable (in this Act referred to 
                                              as &quot;a decree of nullity&#8221;).</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) In addition to any other 
                                              grounds on which a marriage is by 
                                              law void or voidable, a marriage 
                                              shall, subject to subsection (3), 
                                              be voidable on the ground&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) that the marriage has not been 
                                              consummated owing to the wilful 
                                              refusal of the respondent to 
                                              consummate it; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) that at the time of the 
                                              marriage either party to the 
                                              marriage was of unsound mind or 
                                              subject to recurrent attacks of 
                                              insanity; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (c) that the respondent was at the 
                                              time of the marriage pregnant by 
                                              some person other than the 
                                              petitioner; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (d) that the respondent was at the 
                                              time of the marriage suffering 
                                              from an incurable venereal disease 
                                              in a communicable form.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (3) The court shall not grant a 
                                              decree of nullity in a case 
                                              falling within paragraphs (b), (c) 
                                              or (d) of subsection (2) unless it 
                                              is satisfied that&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) the petitioner was at the time 
                                              of the marriage ignorant of the 
                                              facts making the marriage voidable; 
                                              and</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) proceedings were instituted 
                                              within a year from the date of the 
                                              marriage; and</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (c) marital intercourse with the 
                                              consent of the petitioner has not 
                                              taken place since the petitioner 
                                              discovered the existence of the 
                                              facts making the marriage voidable.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (4) Nothing in this section shall 
                                              be construed as validating a 
                                              marriage which is by law void but 
                                              with respect to which a decree of 
                                              nullity has not been granted.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 14&#8212;Children of Annulled 
                                              Marriages.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Where a decree of nullity is 
                                              granted, any child of the parties 
                                              to the decree shall be deemed to 
                                              have the same status and rights as 
                                              if the marriage of his parents had 
                                              been dissolved rather than 
                                              annulled.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 15&#8212;Presumption of Death 
                                              and Dissolution of Marriage.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) Any married person may present 
                                              a petition to the court to have it 
                                              presumed that the other party to 
                                              the marriage is dead and to have 
                                              the marriage dissolved.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) The court may, if it is 
                                              satisfied that reasonable grounds 
                                              for the application of the 
                                              presumption exist, make a decree 
                                              of presumption of death and 
                                              dissolution of marriage.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (3) In any proceedings under this 
                                              section, the fact that for a 
                                              period of seven years or more the 
                                              other party to the marriage has 
                                              been continually absent from the 
                                              petitioner and the petitioner has 
                                              no reason to believe that the 
                                              other party has been living within 
                                              that time shall be evidence that 
                                              the other party is dead until the 
                                              contrary is proved.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 16&#8212;Neglect to Maintain 
                                              Spouse or Child.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) Either party to a marriage may 
                                              petition the court for an order 
                                              for maintenance on the ground that 
                                              the other party to the marriage 
                                              has wilfully neglected to provide, 
                                              or to make a proper contribution 
                                              towards, reasonable maintenance 
                                              for the petitioner or any child of 
                                              the household.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) A wife shall not be deemed to 
                                              have wilfully neglected her 
                                              husband unless the court is 
                                              satisfied that, in all the 
                                              circumstances, it is reasonable to 
                                              expect the wife to provide or 
                                              contribute towards maintenance for 
                                              her husband; and for the purpose 
                                              of so satisfying itself the court 
                                              shall consider&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) any impairment of the 
                                              husband's earning capacity, 
                                              whether through age, illness, 
                                              disability or otherwise; and</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) any resources of the husband; 
                                              and</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (c) the earning capacity and any 
                                              resources of the wife; and</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (d) any other circumstances 
                                              relating to the financial position 
                                              of the parties.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (3) A respondent shall not be 
                                              deemed to have wilfully neglected 
                                              a child of the household where 
                                              that child is not the natural or 
                                              adopted child of the respondent 
                                              unless the court is satisfied in 
                                              all the circumstances that it is 
                                              reasonable to expect the 
                                              respondent to provide or 
                                              contribute towards maintenance for 
                                              that child of the household; and 
                                              for the purpose of so satisfying 
                                              itself, the court shall consider&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) whether the respondent had 
                                              assumed any responsibility for the 
                                              child's maintenance, and if so, 
                                              the extent, duration and basis of 
                                              that assumed responsibility; and</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) whether any person other than 
                                              the respondent is responsible for 
                                              the maintenance of the child, and 
                                              if so, the extent to which that 
                                              party is maintaining, or might be 
                                              able to maintain, the child; and</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (c) any other circumstances 
                                              relating to the relationship 
                                              between the respondent and the 
                                              child.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 17&#8212;Unreasonable Conduct 
                                              Towards Spouse or Child.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Either party to a marriage may 
                                              petition the Court for a child 
                                              custody order on the ground that 
                                              the other party to the marriage 
                                              has persistently behaved in an 
                                              unreasonable manner towards either 
                                              the petitioner or any child of the 
                                              household.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              PART III&#8212;FINANCIAL PROVISION, 
                                              CHILD CUSTODY AND OTHER RELIEF.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 18&#8212;General Powers.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              In any proceedings under this Act, 
                                              the court may exercise any of the 
                                              powers specified in this Part.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 19&#8212;Financial Provision for 
                                              Spouse.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              The court may, whenever it thinks 
                                              just and equitable, award 
                                              maintenance pending suit or 
                                              financial provision to either 
                                              party to the marriage, but no 
                                              order for maintenance pending suit 
                                              or financial provision shall be 
                                              made until the court has 
                                              considered the standard of living 
                                              of the parties and their 
                                              circumstances.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 20&#8212;Property Settlement.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) The court may order either 
                                              party to the marriage to pay to 
                                              the other party such sum of money 
                                              or convey to the other party such 
                                              movable or immovable property as 
                                              settlement of property rights or 
                                              in lieu thereof or as part of 
                                              financial provision as the court 
                                              thinks just and equitable.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) Payments and conveyances under 
                                              this section may be ordered to be 
                                              made in gross or by instalments.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 21&#8212;Conveyance of Title.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) When a decree of divorce or 
                                              nullity is granted, if the court 
                                              is satisfied that either party to 
                                              the marriage holds title to 
                                              movable or immovable property part 
                                              or all of which rightfully belongs 
                                              to the other, the court shall 
                                              order transfer or conveyance of 
                                              the interest to the party entitled 
                                              to it upon such terms as the court 
                                              thinks just and equitable.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) When a transfer or conveyance 
                                              of movable or immovable property 
                                              is ordered by the court and the 
                                              party ordered to make the transfer 
                                              or conveyance is either unable or 
                                              unwilling to do so, the court may 
                                              order the registrar of the court 
                                              to execute the appropriate 
                                              transfer or conveyance on the part 
                                              of that party.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 22&#8212;Custody and Financial 
                                              Provision for Children.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) In all proceedings under this 
                                              Act, it shall be the duty of the 
                                              court to inquire whether there are 
                                              any children of the household.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) The court may, either on its 
                                              own initiative or on application 
                                              by a party to any proceedings 
                                              under this Act, make any order 
                                              concerning any child of the 
                                              household which it thinks 
                                              reasonable and for the benefit of 
                                              the child.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (3) Without prejudice to the 
                                              generality of subsection (2), an 
                                              order under that section may&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) award custody of the child to 
                                              any person;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) regulate the right of access 
                                              of any person to the child;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (c) provide for the education and 
                                              maintenance of the child out of 
                                              the property or income of either 
                                              or both of the parties to the 
                                              marriage.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 23&#8212;Security for Payment.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Where the court has reason to 
                                              believe that a party ordered to 
                                              make a payment or payments may be 
                                              unwilling or unlikely to pay, the 
                                              court may order that party to give 
                                              reasonable security for any 
                                              payment or payments ordered.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 24&#8212;Payment of Costs.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              At any time after the commencement 
                                              of the proceedings, the court may 
                                              require either party to the 
                                              marriage to pay to the other party 
                                              such sum or sums of money as are 
                                              reasonable to enable that party to 
                                              maintain or defend the suit.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 25&#8212;Orders of Restraint, 
                                              Etc.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) The court may by order 
                                              restrain&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) either party to the marriage 
                                              from leaving the jurisdiction 
                                              until the court is satisfied that 
                                              that party has made adequate 
                                              provision to satisfy any award the 
                                              court has made or may make in the 
                                              proceedings;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) any person from removing any 
                                              child of the household from the 
                                              jurisdiction,</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (c) any party to the marriage from 
                                              imposing any restraint on the 
                                              personal liberty of, or from 
                                              harming or interfering with, the 
                                              other party to the marriage or any 
                                              child of the household, for as 
                                              long as it thinks necessary.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) The court may order any person 
                                              to return any child of the 
                                              household to the jurisdiction.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 26&#8212;Orders Relating to 
                                              Assets.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) The court may by order 
                                              restrain either party to the 
                                              marriage, or any other person, 
                                              from permitting the disposition of 
                                              the assets or property of either 
                                              party to the marriage, and the 
                                              court may rescind any disposition 
                                              of such assets or property that 
                                              has been made with the intention 
                                              of defeating the financial 
                                              provision or property settlement 
                                              of the other party, except that a 
                                              disposition for value to a 
                                              purchaser in good faith may not be 
                                              rescinded.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) The court may make any order 
                                              concerning the property of either 
                                              party to the marriage or of any 
                                              child of the household that is 
                                              appropriate to preserve or 
                                              maintain that asset or property 
                                              while the suit is pending before 
                                              the court.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 27&#8212;Modification of 
                                              Financial Provision, Custody and 
                                              Support.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) Subject to subsection (2), the 
                                              court may from time to time 
                                              rescind or vary any order in 
                                              respect of maintenance pending 
                                              suit and financial provision, or 
                                              the care, custody and support of 
                                              any child, as it thinks fit.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) No order of financial 
                                              provision for a party to the 
                                              marriage may be made subsequent to 
                                              a decree of divorce or nullity in 
                                              any case in which&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) the decree contains, an 
                                              express waiver of financial 
                                              provision; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) the decree provides for a 
                                              money or property settlement in 
                                              lieu of financial provision and 
                                              that settlement has been executed; 
                                              or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (c) the decree does not grant 
                                              liberty to apply for financial 
                                              provision in the future.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 28&#8212;Financial Provision to 
                                              Cease on Remarriage or Death.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) A party to the marriage shall 
                                              not be entitled to financial 
                                              provision for himself in respect 
                                              of any period after his 
                                              remarriage.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) The death of a party for whose 
                                              benefit an order for financial 
                                              provision has been made, or the 
                                              death of the party adversely 
                                              affected by such order, shall 
                                              automatically terminate the order.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (3) The provisions of this section 
                                              shall be without prejudice to the 
                                              right of any party ordered to make 
                                              financial provision to apply to 
                                              the Court under section 27 (1), at 
                                              any time subsequent to such order, 
                                              to rescind or vary such order for 
                                              any sufficient cause.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 29&#8212;Orders Terminating on 
                                              Child Reaching Majority.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              An order for care, custody or 
                                              support of a child shall 
                                              automatically terminate when the 
                                              child reaches the age of 
                                              twenty-one years, unless the order 
                                              provides otherwise with a view to 
                                              making reasonable provision for 
                                              the further education of such a 
                                              child, or for the care, custody 
                                              and support of such a child who is 
                                              so incapacitated that he cannot be 
                                              expected to care for himself.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 30&#8212;Failure to Comply with 
                                              Order to Make Financial Provision.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Failure to comply with an order of 
                                              the Court to make financial 
                                              provision under this Act for a 
                                              spouse or child shall, in addition 
                                              to any other effect it might have, 
                                              be deemed to commence a period of 
                                              desertion by the party to the 
                                              marriage who has failed to comply 
                                              with the order.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              PART IV&#8212;JURISDICTION</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 31&#8212;General Matrimonial 
                                              Jurisdiction.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              The court shall have jurisdiction 
                                              in any proceedings under this Act 
                                              where either party to the 
                                              marriage&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) is a citizen of Ghana; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) is domiciled in Ghana; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (c) has been ordinarily resident 
                                              in Ghana for at least three years 
                                              immediately preceding the 
                                              commencement of the proceedings.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 32&#8212;Domicile of Married 
                                              Women.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              For the sole purpose of 
                                              determining jurisdiction under 
                                              this Act, the domicile of a 
                                              married woman shall be determined 
                                              as if the woman was above the age 
                                              of twenty-one and not married.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 33&#8212;Additional Jurisdiction 
                                              Relating to Financial Provision.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              In addition to any other 
                                              jurisdiction conferred by this 
                                              Act, the court shall have 
                                              jurisdiction, where a party who 
                                              may be ordered to make financial 
                                              provision has assets in Ghana, to 
                                              order that party to make financial 
                                              provision not exceeding the value 
                                              of those assets.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 34&#8212;Additional Jurisdiction 
                                              Relating to Child Custody.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              In addition to any other 
                                              jurisdiction conferred by this 
                                              Act, the court shall have 
                                              jurisdiction to make child custody 
                                              arrangements whenever the child 
                                              whose custody is in question is 
                                              present in Ghana.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 35&#8212;Choice of Law.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              In any proceedings under this Act, 
                                              except in proceedings for a decree 
                                              of nullity of a void marriage, the 
                                              issues shall be determined as if 
                                              both parties to the marriage were 
                                              domiciled in Ghana at the 
                                              commencement of the proceedings.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 36&#8212;Recognition of Foreign 
                                              Decrees.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              The court shall recognize as valid 
                                              a decree of divorce, nullity or 
                                              presumption of death and 
                                              dissolution of marriage, obtained 
                                              by judicial process or otherwise, 
                                              which is not contrary to natural 
                                              justice, and which&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) has been granted by any 
                                              tribunal which had a significant 
                                              and substantial connection with 
                                              the parties to the marriage; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) is in accordance with the law 
                                              of the place where both parties to 
                                              the marriage were ordinarily 
                                              resident at the time of the action 
                                              dissolving or annulling the 
                                              marriage.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              PART V&#8212;MISCELLANEOUS AND 
                                              SUPPLEMENTARY</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 37&#8212;Decrees to be Final.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Every decree of divorce, nullity 
                                              and presumption of death and 
                                              dissolution of marriage under this 
                                              Act shall take effect from the 
                                              date on which the court gave 
                                              judgment.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 38&#8212;Bequest to Divorced 
                                              Spouse to be Invalid.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Any gift to or appointment in 
                                              favour of one spouse in the will 
                                              of the other shall be invalidated 
                                              if the marriage has been 
                                              terminated under this Act by 
                                              divorce or annulment, unless the 
                                              will contains an express provision 
                                              to the contrary.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 39&#8212;Privacy of Proceedings.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              The court may direct that any 
                                              proceedings under this Act be 
                                              heard in private and may exclude 
                                              all persons except officers of the 
                                              court, the parties and their 
                                              witnesses and lawyers where the 
                                              court is satisfied that the 
                                              interests of the parties or the 
                                              children of the household so 
                                              require.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 40&#8212;Transfer of Undefended 
                                              Actions.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              The Chief Justice may by writing 
                                              under his hand transfer any 
                                              undefended action under this Act 
                                              from the High Court or a Circuit 
                                              Court to a District Court, and 
                                              that court shall have 
                                              jurisdiction.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 41&#8212;Application of this 
                                              Act.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) This Act shall apply to all 
                                              monogamous marriages. </span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) On application by a party to a 
                                              marriage other than a monogamous 
                                              marriage, the court shall apply 
                                              the provisions of this Act to that 
                                              marriage, and in so doing, subject 
                                              to the requirements of justice, 
                                              equity and good conscience, the 
                                              Court may&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) have regard to the peculiar 
                                              incidents of that marriage in 
                                              determining appropriate relief, 
                                              financial provision and child 
                                              custody arrangements;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) grant any form of relief 
                                              recognised by the personal law of 
                                              the parties to the proceedings, 
                                              either in addition to or in 
                                              substitution for the matrimonial 
                                              reliefs afforded by this Act.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (3) In the application of section 
                                              2 (1) of this Act to a marriage 
                                              other than a monogamous marriage, 
                                              the court shall have regard to any 
                                              facts recognised by the personal 
                                              law of the parties as sufficient 
                                              to justify a divorce, including in 
                                              the case of a customary law 
                                              marriage (but without prejudice to 
                                              the foregoing) the following&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) wilful neglect to maintain a 
                                              wife or child;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) impotence;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (c) barrenness or sterility;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (d) intercourse prohibited under 
                                              that personal law on account of 
                                              consanguinity, affinity or other 
                                              relationship;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (e) persistent false allegations 
                                              of infidelity by one spouse 
                                              against another:</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Provided that this subsection 
                                              shall have effect subject to the 
                                              requirements of justice, equity 
                                              and good conscience.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (4) In the application of this Act 
                                              to any marriage under customary 
                                              law, the words &quot;child of the 
                                              household&quot; shall be construed as 
                                              including any child recognised 
                                              under customary law as a child of 
                                              the parties.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 42&#8212;Abolition of Right to 
                                              Claim Restitution of Conjugal 
                                              Rights.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              After the commencement of this Act 
                                              no person may petition the court 
                                              for restitution of conjugal 
                                              rights.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 43&#8212;Interpretation.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              In this Act&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &quot;adultery&quot; means the voluntary 
                                              sexual intercourse of a married 
                                              person with one of the opposite 
                                              sex other than his or her spouse;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &quot;child of the household&quot; means any 
                                              child, whether the natural or 
                                              adopted child of both or either of 
                                              the parties, or any other child 
                                              who is treated by both parties as 
                                              a permanent member of their 
                                              household;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &#8220;court&quot; means (subject to section 
                                              40) the High Court or a Circuit 
                                              Court;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &#8220;financial provision&quot; includes 
                                              maintenance and all other forms of 
                                              financial support provided by one 
                                              spouse to the other or to any 
                                              child of the household;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &#8220;maintenance pending suit&quot; 
                                              includes all forms of financial 
                                              support provided by one spouse to 
                                              the other or to any child of the 
                                              household from the commencement to 
                                              the determination of the 
                                              proceedings;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &#8220;marriage&quot; except as otherwise 
                                              provided in section 41 of this Act 
                                              means a monogamous marriage;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &#8220;monogamous marriage&quot; does not 
                                              include a potentially polygamous 
                                              marriage.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 44&#8212;Enactments Ceasing to 
                                              have Effect.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) Any English statute relating 
                                              to matrimonial causes which was in 
                                              force in Ghana immediately before 
                                              the commencement of this Act shall 
                                              cease to apply.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) This Act shall not apply to 
                                              any proceedings commenced before 
                                              the coming into force of this Act, 
                                              and accordingly notwithstanding 
                                              subsection (1) of this section, 
                                              any such proceedings may be 
                                              continued and determined after the 
                                              commencement of this Act in 
                                              accordance with the law in force 
                                              immediately before such 
                                              commencement.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">&nbsp;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              HOSPITAL FEES ACT, 1971 (ACT 387)</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &nbsp;1. Hospital Fees</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &nbsp;2. General exemptions from 
                                              hospital fees</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &nbsp;3. Exemptions for particular 
                                              services</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &nbsp;4. Exemptions for particular 
                                              classes of persons</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &nbsp;5. Increased fees payable in 
                                              certain cases</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &nbsp;6. Persons liable to pay fees</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &nbsp;7. Manner of payment of fees</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &nbsp;8. Recovery of fees</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &nbsp;9. Evidence</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              10. False representations</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              11. Regulations</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              12. Interpretation</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              13. Repeals</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              14. Commencement.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">&nbsp;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              THE THREE HUNDRED AND 
                                              EIGHTY-SEVENTH</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              ACT</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              OF THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC 
                                              OF GHANA</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              ENTITLED</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              THE HOSPITAL FEES ACT, 1971</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              AN ACT&nbsp; to regulate the fees 
                                              payable in respect of hospital 
                                              services, and for matters 
                                              connected therewith.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              DATE OF ASSENT: 6th October, 1971</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              BE IT ENACTED&nbsp; by the President 
                                              and the National Assembly in this 
                                              present Parliament assembled as 
                                              follows&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 1&#8212;Hospital Fees.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) Subject to the provisions of 
                                              this Act, any person who receives 
                                              services at a hospital shall pay 
                                              for those services the prescribed 
                                              basic fees.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) Except as provided by this Act 
                                              and regulations made thereunder, 
                                              no person shall be liable to pay 
                                              any fees in respect of services 
                                              rendered to him in a hospital.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 2&#8212;General Exemptions from 
                                              Hospital Fees.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              No fees shall be paid in respect 
                                              of services rendered in a hospital 
                                              to&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) any person certified in 
                                              writing by a medical officer to be 
                                              unable to pay those fees on the 
                                              ground of poverty;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) any person suffering from such 
                                              disease or condition as may be 
                                              prescribed;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (c) any pupil or student receiving 
                                              full-time education in a 
                                              recognised institution;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (d) any prescribed class of 
                                              persons working or studying within 
                                              the Health Service;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (e) any person requested by the 
                                              medical officer concerned to 
                                              attend or come to a hospital for 
                                              admission for the purpose of 
                                              teaching;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (f) any person for the time being 
                                              in lawful custody;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (g) any certified psychiatric 
                                              patient;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (h) any other prescribed class of 
                                              persons.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 3&#8212;Exemptions for 
                                              Particular Services.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) No fees shall be paid in 
                                              respect of any medical examination 
                                              or report required by any 
                                              department of state, or in 
                                              connection with the official 
                                              duties of any employee of a 
                                              department of state, or in 
                                              connection with the entry of any 
                                              person into a department of state 
                                              or his departure therefrom.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) No fees shall be paid by any 
                                              person receiving medical attention 
                                              in a hospital in respect of any 
                                              medical report relating to him.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (3) No fees shall be paid by any 
                                              person in respect of any 
                                              prescribed laboratory examination 
                                              carried out on him during 
                                              out-patient attendance.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (4) No fees shall be paid by any 
                                              person in respect of X-ray films 
                                              taken for the purposes of 
                                              tuberculosis control.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (5) No fees shall be paid by any 
                                              person other than a non-resident 
                                              alien&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) in respect of any casualty 
                                              treatment given which does not 
                                              involve admission into hospital; 
                                              or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) in respect of treatment 
                                              involving splints or other similar 
                                              appliances.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 4&#8212;Exemptions for 
                                              Particular Classes of Persons.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) No fees other than the fees 
                                              prescribed for accommodation and 
                                              maintenance shall be paid in 
                                              respect of services rendered in a 
                                              hospital to&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) any person who is not 
                                              gainfully employed and who is 
                                              under the age of eighteen years or 
                                              over the age of sixty-five years;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) any person other than a 
                                              non-resident alien in respect of 
                                              ante-natal care at a health post, 
                                              rural health centre or clinic, or 
                                              any other hospital specified by 
                                              the Director of Medical Services 
                                              by notice published in the 
                                              Gazette;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (c) any maternity patient who has 
                                              had four or more child births;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (d) any maternity patient referred 
                                              to a hospital from a clinic or 
                                              health centre;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (e) any maternity patient referred 
                                              to a hospital by a registered 
                                              midwife or registered medical 
                                              practitioner.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) No fees in respect of 
                                              accommodation or maintenance shall 
                                              be paid where any person referred 
                                              to in subsection (1) is exempted 
                                              from such payment by any provision 
                                              of section 2.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (3) Notwithstanding the provisions 
                                              of subsections (1) and (2) of this 
                                              section where a patient requests 
                                              for special amenities such patient 
                                              shall pay such fees as may be 
                                              prescribed.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 5&#8212;Increased Fees Payable 
                                              in Certain Cases.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Where services are rendered in a 
                                              hospital to any person who is&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (a) a private patient; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (b) a non-resident alien; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (c) a member of the diplomatic 
                                              staff of a country which does not 
                                              give reciprocal medical coverage 
                                              to Ghanaian diplomatic staff 
                                              accredited to that country or 
                                              Ghanaians resident in that 
                                              country; or</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin-left: 36.0pt">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (d) the wife or child of a person 
                                              referred to in paragraph (c),</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              and such person is liable to pay 
                                              any fee under the foregoing 
                                              provisions of this Act, the fee 
                                              payable shall be not less than 
                                              such fee as shall be payable by a 
                                              Ghanaian diplomat accredited to or 
                                              resident in the country of that 
                                              person.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 6&#8212;Persons Liable to Pay 
                                              Fees.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) Subject to the provision of 
                                              this section, the person liable to 
                                              pay any fee under this Act shall 
                                              be the person in respect of whom 
                                              the service was rendered.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) Notwithstanding subsection 
                                              (1), where it is a term in the 
                                              conditions of service of any 
                                              person employed by the Government 
                                              that such person shall be entitled 
                                              to receive any free medical 
                                              attention, such person shall to 
                                              that extent not be liable for the 
                                              payment of fees under this Act.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 7&#8212;Manner of Payment of 
                                              Fees.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) The fees payable under this 
                                              Act shall be paid to the hospital 
                                              revenue officer at the hospital 
                                              where the fees were incurred, upon 
                                              the issue by that officer of a 
                                              bill specifying the fees to be 
                                              paid.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) The hospital revenue officer 
                                              shall issue an official receipt to 
                                              every person making a payment 
                                              under this Act.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (3) Any hospital revenue officer 
                                              who fails, at the time of 
                                              receiving a payment under this 
                                              Act, to issue an official receipt 
                                              to the person making that payment, 
                                              shall be guilty of an offence and 
                                              liable on summary conviction to a 
                                              fine not exceeding two thousand 
                                              new cedis or to imprisonment not 
                                              exceeding twelve months or to 
                                              both.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 8&#8212;Recovery of Fees.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">A 
                                              hospital revenue officer or any 
                                              other person appointed by the 
                                              Minister may sue for the recovery 
                                              of any fees payable under this Act 
                                              which are unpaid together with any 
                                              costs properly incurred.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 9&#8212;Evidence.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              In any proceedings for the 
                                              recovery of any fees payable under 
                                              this Act, an account signed by the 
                                              hospital revenue officer setting 
                                              out the amount claimed from the 
                                              defendant in the proceedings shall 
                                              be admissible in evidence without 
                                              proof of the signature, and shall 
                                              be prima facie evidence of the 
                                              amount due.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 10&#8212;False Representations.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) Any person who by a false 
                                              representation obtains without 
                                              payment or at a reduced rate of 
                                              payment any medicine, surgical 
                                              appliance, attendance or treatment 
                                              at a hospital shall be guilty of 
                                              an offence and liable on 
                                              conviction to a fine not exceeding 
                                              one hundred new cedis.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) Any person who commits any of 
                                              the acts referred to in subsection 
                                              (1) shall, whether or not he is 
                                              prosecuted, be liable to pay for 
                                              such medicine, surgical appliance, 
                                              attendance or treatment at the 
                                              prescribed rates, and in respect 
                                              of such payment shall not be 
                                              entitled to the benefit of any 
                                              exemption under this Act.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 11&#8212;Regulations.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              The Minister may with the approval 
                                              of the Cabinet by legislative 
                                              instrument make regulations 
                                              prescribing anything that is to be 
                                              prescribed for the purposes of 
                                              this Act, granting further 
                                              exemptions in respect of any class 
                                              of persons or any form of 
                                              treatment, or otherwise for giving 
                                              effect to the provisions and 
                                              purposes of this Act.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 12&#8212;Interpretation.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (1) In this Act,&#8212;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &quot;department of state&quot; includes the 
                                              Civil Service, the Judicial 
                                              Service, the Teaching Service, the 
                                              Police Service, the Prisons 
                                              Service, the Armed Forces of 
                                              Ghana, and any other prescribed 
                                              service;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &quot;hospital&quot; means any 
                                              government-controlled hospital, 
                                              dispensary, health centre, clinic, 
                                              mental or psychiatric hospital or 
                                              other government medical 
                                              institution at which medical 
                                              treatment is available;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &quot;hospital revenue officer&quot; means 
                                              the officer responsible for the 
                                              collection of fees at a hospital;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &quot;medical officer concerned&quot; means 
                                              a medical officer wholly or partly 
                                              responsible for the medical care 
                                              of a patient at a hospital;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &quot;Minister&quot; means the Minister 
                                              responsible for Health;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &quot;non-resident alien&quot; means an 
                                              alien who does not have a 
                                              residence permit entitling him to 
                                              remain in Ghana for six months or 
                                              more, or who is not lawfully 
                                              exempted from having a residence 
                                              permit;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &quot;prescribed&quot; means prescribed by 
                                              regulations made under section 11;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &quot;private patient&quot; means a patient 
                                              who requests and is prepared to 
                                              pay for special attention and 
                                              amenities in lieu of the attention 
                                              and amenities ordinarily 
                                              appropriate to his case;</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              &quot;special amenities&quot; means the 
                                              accommodation and maintenance of a 
                                              patient in a ward designated by 
                                              the Director of Medical Services 
                                              as an amenity ward, in which the 
                                              patient enjoys personal facilities 
                                              for washing and toilet and where 
                                              special diets and other facilities 
                                              are provided at extra cost.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              (2) Where there is any doubt as to 
                                              whether an institution at which 
                                              treatment is available is 
                                              government-controlled so as to be 
                                              a &quot;hospital&quot; within the meaning of 
                                              this Act, the Director of Medical 
                                              Services, after consultation with 
                                              the Minister, may resolve such 
                                              doubt by notice published in the 
                                              Gazette.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 13&#8212;Repeals.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              The Hospital Fees Decree, 1969 (N.L.C.D. 
                                              360) and the Hospital Fees Decree, 
                                              1969 (Amendment) Act, 1970 (Act 
                                              325) are hereby repealed.</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <b>
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              Section 14&#8212;Commencement.</span></b></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">
                                              This Act shall be deemed to come 
                                              into force on the 1st day</span></p>
                                              <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify">
                                              <span style="font-family: Arial">&nbsp;</span></p>
                                              </td>
                </tr>
              </tbody>
            </table>
          </td>
        </tr>
<tr>
  <td width="76" height="50" bgcolor="#003366"></table></td>
        </tr>
