Legal Practitioner Godfred Anim Nyarko has emphasised that fatherhood under Ghanaian law extends beyond biology, highlighting that the legal presumption of paternity prioritises responsibility, intention, and care over mere DNA.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey on Monday, February 16, Anim Nyarko addressed the growing public debate over mandatory paternity testing, noting that a child born during a marriage is legally presumed to belong to the couple.
“Because in law, there’s a presumption that a child born during the course of a marriage belongs to the couple. That presumption is there,” he said.
He explained that proving non-paternity requires more than biological evidence. “In law, you don’t just prove the act, you have to prove the mental aspect, the mindset,” Anim Nyarko stated, stressing that establishing deliberate deception carries a high threshold.
While acknowledging calls for routine DNA testing at birth, he questioned whether such measures always serve families, adding, “Oh yes, if you don’t know, it’s better.”
Concluding, Anim Nyarko underlined the broader view of fatherhood, “You take care of the child, the child is yours,” reminding the public that legal and social responsibility can define parenthood as much as genetics.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Bilkiss Abdul Majiid
