End inhumane widowhood rites now – Group demands

The Widows  Movement Network (WMN) in the Upper East Region are appealing to traditional and opinion leaders’ to either eradicate or modify outmoded and inhumane cultural practices that they say dehumanizes widows.

The network described treatments meted out to widows anytime their husbands die as shameful, disgrace, and abuse of their fundamental rights.

They are thus demanding the ban of such practices in the region and the country at large.

The Founder of the Widows Network, Madam Ayegiba Betty at a stakeholder dialogue meeting in Bolgatanga bemoaned the practice which she said is still prevalent in the region.

Speaking to Citi News, Mrs. Ayegiba stated that, “the striping of widows nicked at funerals grounds of their husbands and making them to bath nicked in public, forcing widows to drink concoctions to prove innocence of husband’s death, Shaving of widow’s hair against their will and putting of ropes around their necks. Paramount among them is forcing widows against their will to choose somebody in the family to marry after the final funeral rites of their husbands.  This has affected many widows psychologically who would not go to church, mosque or the market anytime they want because their pride and womanhood is already lost and exposed to the public,” Mrs. Ayegiba stated.

She added that, though some chiefs in the region are helping the fight against these bad practices, others are covering it up under the pretext of culture.

Mrs. Ayegiba also complained of the justice delivery system.

She stated that two to three cases are recorded every week but when they realize they cannot handle them, they are forwarded to the courts through the Domestic Violence Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) to be determined but most time it does not go in favor of the widow because they are poor.

She cited a widow from Garu who was beaten severely and when the matter was taken to court the perpetrator were only slapped with a GHC50 fine.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana