Ghanaian media personality Afia Pokua, popularly known as Vim Lady, has challenged widespread misconceptions about property division after divorce, stressing that spouses in customary marriages are not automatically excluded from sharing assets acquired during their union.

Speaking in a video that circulated on social media on June 14, 2026, the broadcaster clarified that Ghanaian law does not reserve marital property distribution exclusively for couples who marry through ordinance or civil ceremonies.

According to Vim Lady, the legal recognition of marriage in Ghana extends beyond court and church weddings, covering customary and Islamic unions as well.

She said, “Those saying that because someone married traditionally, they will not share properties when they divorce, that’s not entirely true. Whether you marry traditionally, in court, or through an Islamic wedding, you can still share properties with your partner when the marriage ends.”

She explained that while some couples may prefer to settle issues privately after a separation, the law still provides mechanisms for determining how jointly acquired assets should be handled when a marriage is dissolved.

“When both spouses understand each other and decide not to let the court intervene, and you’re both sure you can handle everything, then you can go ahead and do that,” she added.

The outspoken presenter noted that Ghana’s constitutional and legal framework recognizes that married couples often build wealth together during their relationship, making discussions about property distribution relevant regardless of the form of marriage contracted.

“In Ghana, we have to thank our forefathers because they put it in the Constitution that when people get married, the law is aware that you both have acquired properties together, so you have to share them. The Constitution didn’t say that unless you do a court wedding or white wedding before you can share the properties,” she explained.

Addressing issues surrounding customary marriages, Vim Lady cited PNDC Law 112, explaining that registration of a traditional marriage does not alter its status.

She said, “President Rawlings left us a law, which is Law 112. The law states that whoever gets married traditionally is supposed to register the marriage. If you register it, it doesn’t become an ordinance marriage. It remains a traditional marriage that has been registered.”

She further stated that when a registered customary marriage ends, the parties are expected to notify the institution where the marriage was recorded so that the dissolution can be formally documented.

“When you’re divorcing your traditional marriage, it’s in the law that you have to go where you registered the marriage for them to dissolve the marriage. If it’s a white wedding too, you still have to go to court for them to dissolve it. Don’t let anyone deceive you that since you married traditionally, you wouldn’t have a share in your partner’s properties,” she continued.

To illustrate her point, Vim Lady referenced celebrated actress Felicity Ama Agyemang, widely known as Nana Ama McBrown, noting that assets owned before marriage generally remain the property of their original owners, while wealth accumulated during the marriage may become subject to discussions on distribution.

She stated: “Nana Ama McBrown had properties before marriage, and so did her husband. What may be shared are the properties acquired during the marriage. However, if both parties understand each other, they can decide among themselves who takes what.”

She also explained that where a customary marriage has been officially registered, the couple must report the separation to the relevant authority for the necessary records to be updated.

The comments come amid ongoing public conversations about marriage, divorce, and property rights in Ghana, with Vim Lady emphasizing that the type of marriage contracted does not automatically determine a spouse’s entitlement to jointly acquired assets. Her remarks have reignited discussions on the importance of understanding the legal implications of both customary and civil marriages before entering into them.

Watch the video below:

@afia_vimlady Richard Nii Armah’s ex-wife Mounts a Showdown Appeal after Court declined to give her 50mill Alimony #court #ghanatiktokers🇬🇭🇬🇭🇬🇭 #ghanatiktok🇬🇭 #divorce #ghanaweddings ♬ original sound – afia_vimlady

Source: Yvonne Nyarko Agyemang