Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, is preparing to table a Private Member’s Bill in Parliament that seeks to criminalise paternity fraud, a move that could reshape family law and paternal rights in Ghana. The proposed legislation has sparked both support and debate, with the MP arguing that existing laws do not adequately protect men who are misled into believing they are the biological fathers of children who are not theirs.
Paternity fraud occurs when a woman knowingly misrepresents the biological father of her child, leading a man to assume financial obligations and parental responsibilities under false pretences. Though there is currently no specific criminal offence in Ghana addressing this situation, A Plus contends that the emotional, financial and psychological consequences for misled men can be profound. The bill he intends to present would make it a criminal offence for anyone found to have deliberately misled another party about paternity, and could include custodial sentences for those convicted.
According to available information on the draft legislation, the proposed bill may also include provisions for mandatory DNA testing immediately after childbirth to confirm paternity before legal and financial obligations are assigned. This is intended to provide biological certainty at birth, helping prevent disputes and long term financial burdens that arise when paternity is wrongly assumed. The exact form of the DNA testing provisions, including who bears the cost and whether tests would be required for all births or only in contested cases, has not yet been fully detailed.
Proponents of the initiative argue that current legal mechanisms inadequately address situations where a man discovers, often years later, that he is not the biological father of a child he has supported. Calls for stronger legal recognition of paternity fraud are not unique to Ghana. In some other jurisdictions, related misconduct can attract significant penalties. A Plus’s proposal appears inspired in part by international frameworks, though it remains to be adapted to Ghana’s legal and cultural context.
Supporters of the bill say it would provide deterrence against deception and ensure fairness in family law matters. They argue that men who are wrongly led into parental responsibilities should have legal recourse and that the fear of criminal liability may discourage deliberate deception. This proposed law could also influence how courts handle maintenance orders, custody disputes and child support cases, particularly where paternity is disputed and biological proof is unavailable or contested.
However, the proposed legislation is expected to spark significant debate across political, legal and social circles in Ghana. Critics may argue that criminalising paternity fraud risks undermining the best interests of the child, especially where a non biological father has provided care and support. Family law experts often emphasise that children’s welfare should remain paramount, regardless of biological ties, and that punitive approaches may lead to unintended consequences. The balance between protecting individual rights and ensuring child welfare could become a central point of contention as the bill moves through parliamentary stages.
Cultural and ethical questions are also likely to be raised. Paternity issues are deeply sensitive and can involve family honour, community expectations and personal privacy concerns. Introducing mandatory DNA testing at birth may prompt discussions about privacy rights, the stigmatization of women and the potential for social backlash, particularly in contexts where access to testing services is limited or costly. Critics may also highlight that DNA testing infrastructure and affordability could pose practical challenges if tests were to be required on a wide scale.
At its core, A Plus’s proposed bill reflects a broader push for legal reform in family and maintenance law, in light of rising public awareness of paternity disputes and the emotional toll such situations take on families. Recent reports indicate that private DNA tests are becoming more common in Ghana, often initiated after disputes about paternity arise. Such trends suggest growing demand for scientific verification methods in family law cases, even as courts continue to treat biological and social fatherhood with careful consideration.
As a Private Member’s Bill, the legislation will require broad parliamentary support before it can be debated in full and considered for passage into law. This means that A Plus must engage colleagues across party lines, legal experts and civil society stakeholders to build consensus. The coming weeks and months are likely to see heightened discussion on how best to balance individual rights, parental responsibility and child welfare, key issues that will shape the future of family law in Ghana.