Head of Paintsil, Paintsil & Co., an Accra-based law firm, Kweku Paintsil has stated that religion plays no role in decision making in respect of whether or not one should make a will.

Mr Kweku Paintsil said on JoyNews' The Law, Sunday, that, "it is important to make a will because the Intestate Succession Law 1985 (PNDCL 111) gives legal backing to it.

However, a Vox Pop played on the Show, indicated that most of those interviewed believe that Muslims are not noted for making wills while they are alive. They refer to the dictates of the Qu'ran to share properties of a deceased.

But reacting to this, Mr Paintsil said, writing a will has nothing to do with one's religious background.

"Therefore, being a Muslim does not stop you. On the contrary, the doctrines in your Q’ran is what you must use to make your will in your own life time, according to your beliefs and understanding. So that is what people need to understand, that it's got nothing to do with religion," he told host Samson Lardi Anyenini.

He also debunked some perceptions that have prevented people from preparing their will before they pass on.

"A lot of people think that once you are making a will, you are pointing a gun or the will points a gun at you and shoots you after the will. That’s a misperception. People think that wills are for people who have reached a certain age. People also think that a will is done by people who have acquired wealth to a certain stage. It is a misconception."

Mr Paintsil, further explained people must make a will because it is appointed unto man once to die, and no one knows exactly when they are going to be with the Lord.

"A will will make it possible for the distribution of your properties in a manner you deem best," he stressed.

The legal expert further indicated that a will can be revoked, either by destroying it before a witness or creating an entirely new will.

"You can also revoke a will by another document. Because, typically, anytime we make a will, what we say is that this will, I hereby revoke all former testamentary scripts and whatever. That’s a usual clause we put in,” he added.