MP Kwame Obeng Asare Pushes Bill to Criminalize Paternity Fraud, Cites “Odartey Lamptey Incident

Hon. Kwame Obeng Asare, MP for Gomoa Central, says he is preparing legislation to criminalize the act of deliberately misrepresenting the biological father of a child.

“During a zoom meeting on Kessben TV’s Digest show, he asserted, we want to criminalise the act of falsifying the father of a baby, and not just mandating the test, Asare stated.

He clarified the bill’s scope, saying _“There is no law in Ghana that prohibit couples from having external marital affairs,”_ he noted. _“Fornication and adultery is moral issue and that is not our target but to falsify the biological father of a baby I think it’s a criminal act.” This bill is being pushed by a host of Parliamentarians, both men and women and I

Asare argued that intentional paternity deception harms men and families. _“Every woman who deliberately aportion her pregnancy to a man she knows is falsehood is a grievous offence a woman would do to a man,”_ he said.

_“It is a deliberate attempt to disconnect people from their original leaneage,”_ he added.

The MP referenced a high-profile case to underscore his point citing the Legendary Odartey Lamptey incident, the former Black Stars player’s widely reported paternity dispute.

Asare claimed the issue is widespread because many women nowadays are making some men cater for children who are not their biological children, he said.

On enforcement, he explained, the circumstances under the proven result will determine the mode of punishment that should be given to the culprits.

Asare confirmed the legislative process is underway. “We are about to send the bill to parliament and ensure its passage,” he concluded.

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and women’s rights groups are yet to respond to the proposed bill.