Many people assume that the mother automatically gets custody because she is the mother. Others believe that the father has the stronger claim because he earns more money. Neither is automatically true.
Under Ghanaian law, the central question is the welfare and best interests of the child. The court is not deciding which parent won the divorce. It is deciding what arrangement is best for the child. The main legal framework includes the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1971 (Act 367) and Ghana’s child-protection laws.