News
‘Next Of Kin’ Does Not Grant Inheritance Rights – Lawyer
A lawyer, Abdul Gafaru Ali, has explained that being listed as “next of kin” does not grant inheritance rights or legal authority over estates or properties.
He said that only identifies the listed person as an emergency contact.
He stressed that that could only be possible if the next of kin is listed in a will as a beneficiary, holds a power of attorney, or is an immediate relative, such as a wife or child.
Mr. Ali, a senior associate at the Sustaineri PRUC, made the clarification during an edition of The Mirror Dialogue Series in Accra last Wednesday.
He noted that the term, which frequently appeared on bank, employment, and hospital forms, was often misunderstood by the public.
He attributed the widespread confusion to limited public education and the influence of social media.
“Many people wrongly assume that once they are named as next of kin, they automatically become beneficiaries or decision makers,” he said.
Mr. Ali explained that a next of kin may be a family member, friend, or colleague, ideally older and of sound mind, and added that the law does not recognize claims based solely on next of kin status, even where multiple individuals assert such claims, without proper legal standing.
Responsibilities and limitations
On the responsibilities and limitations of the role, Mr. Ali stressed that a next of kin has very limited duties, mainly assisting institutions by providing information when required.
He added that individuals were free to list different people as their next of kin on different forms, depending on the purpose.
“Unlike a power of attorney, a next of kin cannot make legal or medical decisions for the person,” he said.
Explaining the concepts of power of attorney and beneficiaries under Ghanaian law, Mr. Ali said a power of attorney authorizes an individual to act on another person’s behalf while the person is alive.
This may include signing documents, attending meetings, or handling legal matters.

However, he noted that the authority granted under a power of attorney ends immediately upon the death of the person who executed it.
Beneficiaries, on the other hand, are persons legally entitled to inherit from a deceased individual either through a will or under the law.
Mr. Ali explained that executors named in a will could obtain a probate from the court, which authorizes them to manage and distribute the deceased’s estate.
He added that where a person dies without a will, surviving spouses, children, parents, or customary successors may apply to the court for letters of administration to legally manage the estate in accordance with PNDC Law 111.
The importance of a Will
On the importance of a will, Mr. Ali urged Ghanaians to draft wills to ensure their estates are distributed according to their wishes.
He explained that a valid will must be in writing, signed in the presence of two witnesses, and ideally lodged at the court.
According to him, a will provides clear guidance to families and helps reduce disputes after death, even though it may still be contested in some cases.
Public education
Mr. Ali also highlighted the responsibility of institutions, legal practitioners, the media, and the state in educating the public on misconceptions surrounding “next of kin” and estate planning.
He cited the Bank of Ghana’s 2024 public notice clarifying the concept of “next of kin” and its limitations as a positive step.
He urged banks, insurance companies, and other organizations that require “next of kin” details on their forms to consistently explain that listing someone as a next of kin does not make the person an automatic beneficiary.
graphic.com.gh
News
Police, Prisons, GNFS, Armed Forces To Benefit From New Housing Scheme
President John Dramani Mahama says the government has commissioned a Singaporean company to construct housing units for personnel of the security services, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and Ghana Armed Forces.
According to the President, the decision followed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during his visit to Singapore in 2025 to establish a prefabricated housing factory in Ghana to support large-scale infrastructure delivery.
He explained that the company’s first major project was the construction of a 10,000-bed hostel at the University of Ghana, but it has now been tasked to also deliver accommodation for the country’s security agencies.
“But we have also commissioned them to build housing for our Police Service, our Prisons, Fire Service and the Ghana Armed Forces,” President Mahama stated.
The President made the disclosure while addressing the Ghana Police Service end-of-year gathering, popularly known as the West African Soldiers Social Activity (WASSA), at the Police Headquarters in Accra.
He said the initiative, under the government’s Big Push Agenda, is expected to significantly improve accommodation conditions for the security services, and urged the Police Service to identify available lands within their barracks for the housing projects.
“Start identifying your lands in your various barracks where we will build this accommodation so that we can provide enough housing for our police service,” he added.
President Mahama described WASSA as more than a social event, noting that it provides an opportunity for reflection on service, sacrifice and the shared responsibility of safeguarding peace and stability in Ghana.
He commended the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, the Police Management Board and personnel of the Ghana Police Service for what he described as their effective performance during the recent Christmas and New Year festivities.
According to the President, despite increased travel and social activities during the festive period, crime levels were kept low through careful planning, discipline and intelligence-led operations.
He also praised the strategic deployment of officers across highways, communities, markets, places of worship, transport terminals and entertainment centres, saying the visible police presence reassured the public.
President Mahama said he was encouraged by the speed and professionalism with which incidents were handled, noting that reports were promptly addressed, suspects swiftly apprehended and criminal activities disrupted.
“Let us sustain this momentum and send a clear message that there will be no hiding place for criminal elements,” he said.
He further described the revival of WASSA after a long break as symbolic, stressing that it highlights the need for institutions to periodically reflect, reassess and renew their commitment to duty.
The President said this year’s celebration, themed “Resetting the Police Service: Professionalism, Integrity and Building Public Trust,” reflects the evolving challenges of modern policing and the expectations of the Ghanaian public.
“There can be no meaningful development without security. Every trader, student, commuter and investor depends on a sense of safety,” he stated.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, said the 2025 WASSA event was organised to allow officers to briefly step away from their demanding schedules to appreciate one another and acknowledge their collective efforts.
Source: GNA
News
Hohoe: Mobile Money Vendor Commits Suicide
Information reaching us at AladdynKingMedia.com indicates that a mobile money (MoMo) vendor who lived in Torkoni/Blave in the Volta Region’s Hohoe Municipality committed suicide, shocking and depressing the locals.
On Thursday, January 8, 2026, at roughly 1800 hours, word of the occurrence spread.
The deceased, whose identity is yet unknown, also sold brushes, toothpaste, and sponges at the Hohoe major lorry station.
Mr. Derek Adzoe, Assembly Member for the Torkoni/Blave Electoral Area, stated that the deceased was a MoMo vendor who had been heard making phone calls earlier in the day.
He claimed that the communication implied that someone was requesting money from the deceased, who clarified that he would pay the sum using electronic cash (e-cash) or MoMo.
According to accounts, some people later went to the deceased’s home, knocked on his door, and threatened to denounce him to the police, Mr. Adzoe continued.
He claimed that the brother of the deceased described how the calls affected his sibling’s mood, but he did not reveal the problem.
Mr. Adzoe claims that the brother went to town and returned to find the door shut.
The deceased was discovered dead when the door was forced open following multiple failed phone attempts to contact them.
The police had taken the body to the mortuary for more examinations, according to Mr. Adzoe, who was on the scene.
News
Amend Scholarship Authority Act – NUGS Urges Parliament
The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) has called on the government to urgently amend the Scholarship Authority Act to allow students to be directly represented on the Authority’s Governing Board.
In a statement issued on January 9, 2026, the student body said it was not satisfied with the Ministry of Education’s response to concerns raised about the board’s composition. NUGS said the current arrangement does not clearly protect the interests of students, who are the main beneficiaries of the Scholarship Authority.
NUGS explained that Ghana already has clear examples of student representation in education governance. It pointed to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), where the law allows NUGS to nominate a student representative to serve on the board. According to the union, the same approach should have been used in the Scholarship Authority Act.
READ ALSO: Scholarship Board: We’ll Fight Until Students Get Representation – NUGS
The union also dismissed claims that it is represented through civil society organisations. NUGS stressed that it is not a civil society organisation but a recognised national student union with the mandate to speak for students across the country. It added that past NUGS leadership has openly rejected any attempt to classify the union under civil society groups.
NUGS said student representation on the Scholarship Authority board must be clearly stated in law and not assumed or implied. It argued that decisions taken by the Authority directly affect students and therefore require a guaranteed student voice, preferably through a NUGS-nominated representative.
The union therefore appealed to Parliament and the Ministry of Education to amend the law under a certificate of urgency. It believes this will remove uncertainty, build public trust, and bring the Scholarship Authority in line with accepted standards in Ghana’s education sector.
While maintaining a strong position, NUGS said it remains open to dialogue and cooperation. The union described its action as principled and focused on protecting the interests of Ghanaian students, not as an attack on any institution.


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