Widowhood: The Concept and Right to Remarry in The Kassena Culture

Abstract

A good marriage is the most rewarding experience that life can offer; it is almost comparableto a heaven on earth. Besides providing for safe and secure sexual fulfillment, it also takes care of many other human necessities like those of companionship, affection and security. However, a good marriage does not simply happen. It has to be worked out. Community influence, social context and individual attitude play a pivotal role toward marriage. The hopes of many spouses are always dashed when the unfortunate thing of death occurs. Many of these people who face the wrath of family members of their late spouses are the widows. Most women in the Kassena Nankana West District remain unmarried after the death of their husbands; though some of them may still be very young and can remarry. This is because very few widows seem to be aware of their rights. Thus, this research seeks to investigate the concept of widowhood and the right to remarry in the Kassena Nankana West District. This study adopted a qualitative, phenomenological research design to understand and describe the lived experiences and the essence of widowhood. The study is designed to focus on the widows' descriptions and constructions of widows' experiences, challenges and survival strategies in relation to their right to remarry. The study has shown that widowhood rites are those rites that a surviving spouse has to go through at the demise of a partner. The fact that all the respondents expressed virtually the same view about widowhood rites means the practice has gained roots in the study area, and therefore has become common knowledge among the people. The study brought to the fore the widowhood rites that turn to prevent women who have lost their husbands from remarrying in the Kasena traditional area. Based on the results, the study recommended that, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) should design practical and interesting programmes to educate the Ghanaian public on women's rights and the concept of widowhood and the right to remarry.