ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES ACT - 1961 (ACT 63)

Section - 53 - Power to administer where assets do not exceed ₵100

(1) Subject to the provisions of the Intestate Succession Law, 1985 (PNDCL 111), whenever any person dies intestate leaving property or assets in Ghana, the gross value of which does not exceed fifty thousand cedis the Administrator-General may by notice in the Gazette (which may be combined with a notice to creditors and others) advertise his intention to administer the estate and at the expiration of the time limited by the notice he may apply to the Court for leave to administer the estate.

(2) The Administrator-General shall not under the power conferred by this section undertake the administration of an estate if there has been any previous appointment of an administrator under any other provision relating to small estates, or if there has been any previous grant of probate of the will of the deceased or of letters of administration of his estate, unless and until that appointment or grant has been revoked.

(3) It shall not be obligatory on the Administrator-General to file in court his accounts or vouchers in respect of an estate administered under this section unless he is required to do so by a beneficiary or creditor of the administration, and receives payment of such sum as the Administrator-General may reasonably require to cover the costs of preparing, filing and passing the accounts.

(4) The Administrator-General shall give notice in the prescribed manner to all persons interested that he has completed the administration of the estate. A beneficiary or creditor must call on the Administrator-General to file an account under subsection (3) of this section within one month of the notice being given.

(5) The Administrator-General shall have full power to settle finally and without appeal all disputes and questions which may arise in the course of an administration by him under this section, including claims by creditors, but may allow an appeal to the court or may himself apply to the court for directions.

(6) In settling disputes or questions, the Administrator-General may, if he thinks it expedient in the interests of justice or with a view to saving expense, act on information which appears to him to be credible though it is not legal evidence. [As Substituted by Administration of Estates (Amendment) Law, 1985 (PNDCL 113) s. 4].