Dokument #1076409
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
A Ghanaian Professor of Political Science
at Wayne State University in Michigan, U.S.A., stated in a
telephone interview with the IRBDC (14 Sept. 1992), that the
brother of a deceased man is referred to as "father" by the
brother's children. The children would also describe him as such
while their actual father is still alive but they will refer to the
mother's brother as "uncle." The professor further explained that
the Ashanti is a matrilineal culture and the maternal uncle plays a
more important role than the father and the paternal uncle.
Traditionally, nephews and nieces would inherit their maternal
uncle's property after his death. Legally, affidavits should be
signed by the natural parents. However, in practice, an uncle,
whether maternal or paternal, may easily sign as the legal
authority.
In another telephone interview with the
IRBDC (15 Sept. 1992) a Ghanaian Journalist with New African
in London, England, corroborated the professor's statements.
Further information on this subject is currently unavailable to the
IRBDC in Ottawa.
New African [London]. 15
September 1992. Telephone Interview with Ghanaian Journalist.
Wayne State University, Michigan. 14
September 1992. Telephone Interview with Ghanaian Professor of
Political Science.