An increasing number of widows in parts of the Upper East Region are refusing to remarry within the families of their late husbands, citing worsening living conditions and persistent abuse.
Traditionally, widows in some communities in the region are permitted to remarry a relative of their deceased husbands. However, this long-standing cultural practice is gradually being abandoned.
Many widows attribute their decision to years of physical, emotional, and economic abuse by the selected husbands, as well as mistreatment from co-wives and other family members. Reports of stigma, property denial, and neglect have further discouraged women from accepting such arrangements.
Another major concern is the lack of recognition and responsibility for children born within these remarriages.
In many cases, the children continue to bear the name of the deceased husband, leading some new husbands to distance themselves from parental responsibilities and leave the burden of care solely on the widows.
As a result, many widows say they feel overwhelmed and unsupported, prompting them to resist calls to remarry.
However, their refusal has in some instances exposed them to other forms of sexual harassment and abuse within their communities.
Speaking to Dreamz News on the sidelines of a stakeholders’ engagement organized with support from the African Women’s Development Fund under the KASA Grants, and as part of the “Breaking the Silence on Sexual Violence Against Widows” project, the Executive Director of the Widows and Orphans Movement, Fatima Abigail Abdulai, emphasized that many widows are heavily overburdened due to lack of social and economic support.
According to her, this stark reality is a key reason many widows are unwilling to remarry.
She noted that interactions with widows across the region indicate that many are no longer interested in remarriage or having additional children, as doing so often increases their responsibilities without providing adequate protection or support.
“Traditionally, when you remarry and give birth, the child still bears the dead man’s name. There is no sense of ownership in terms of the biological parent to help care for the children. According to the widows, when they remarry, they have more mouths to feed. It’s like more of a burden. So that’s one of the reasons they prefer not to remarry, but to stay and take care of their children. Many of these men don’t even show up or take care of the kids they have with them. and you have more children to feed,” she said.
Ms. Abdulai further revealed that abuse against widows is widespread, stating that one out of every two widows experiences some form of abuse.
She stressed that addressing the issue requires coordinated intervention from multiple stakeholders, including traditional rulers and community leaders.
