A High Court Judge, Justice Alexander Osei Tutu, has characterized the tradition of married women adopting their husbands’ surnames as antiquated and discriminatory towards women.
In a recent interview with JoyNews, Justice Tutu underscored the necessity of reevaluating this practice, which he argued is rooted in English customs that historically marginalized women but now lacks legal relevance.
He highlighted that historically, women took their husbands’ names due to legal incapacitation, as a form of identity and recognition.
“This practice originated as an English custom intended to demean women, but its significance has diminished over time.”
He highlighted the significant changes in today’s laws, which empower women to own property and manage legal affairs independently.
“The era where women were infringed by law is no more. So why do women continue to adopt the surnames of husbands when they tie the knot?”
He pointed out that religious texts do not explicitly require women to change their names upon marriage.
“If you want to use the Bible to justify it, you may get it wrong because nowhere in the Bible did we have a woman changing her name because she got married. Eve was never called Adam Eve. Jesus’ mother was not called Mary Joseph.”
Justice Tutu urged Ghanaian society to abandon traditions that no longer serve a legal or societal purpose in modern times.