Private legal practitioner Maurice Ampaw has sparked controversy with comments about privacy in marriages, describing the act of checking a partner’s phone without consent as a “criminal act”.
Speaking on GTV’s Breakfast Show on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, which celebrated Marriage Week—intended to celebrate the institution of marriage and foster stronger relationships—Mr. Ampaw attributed social media and breaches of privacy as significant threats to modern marriages.
“One of the things causing us to lose our marriages is the social media craze,” he stated. “I nearly had one myself. How dare you take my phone and go through my phone? It’s a crime.”
His remarks follow mixed reactions from the public, with some supporting his stance on privacy, while others argue that openness is essential for trust in relationships.
But Mr. Ampaw argued that individuals have a right to privacy, even within a marriage, and condemned partners who secretly access their significant other’s devices.
“There’s a law of confidentiality, law of privacy, your right to privacy. So, the men and women looking at their partners’ phones are criminals,” he declared.
He added that such actions often lead to unnecessary conflicts, warning that people may discover things they would rather not see.
