Marriage in Ghana

     Marriage in Ghana is quite different from marriage in the United States. It is not  a contract between a man and a woman, but rather it is a contract between two very large families. When a man finds a woman who he is interested in, he will walk her to the market everyday when she has to work. They will talk on their way to the market, while she is working, and when she leaves the market at night. They will discuss their interests and what their goals are in life. It also beneficial to the woman, because she will stay at the market later (she feels safe having a man walk her home at night when it is dark out).

     When a man finds a woman that he wants to marry, he will inform his interest to his family head. His parents will then investigate her family. They will try to see if the girl is beautiful (not looks, but rather what she is made out of). Is she a hard-working person? If everything comes back okay, his parents will inform her parents. Then, her parents will investigate the man and his family as well. If everything checks out alright, the girl’s family will send an okay over.

     Once this happens, the man will receive a list of things that he must do or buy in order for him to marry the girl. It is similar to the idea of a dowry, but it is a little bit different. The man will send cloth to the woman’s mother and father, as well as the woman. He will also pay all of her brother some money, maybe something like twenty dollars each, because they helped protect her from harm's way.

     Once the man finished his list of demands, the families will set a date where the family heads can meet. This occurs because ti is very important for the man and woman to know who each other’s family heads are, in case any problems arise in their marriage. Once it is time to get married, the woman will be handed over to the man’s family head.

     Divorce is a last resort option in Ghana. If there are any problems, they will go to the family head. For example, if the man is the problem in the marriage, the woman will go to the man’s family head. This person will then try to sort out the problem with the male. Separation is usually a cure-all, where the woman will stay at the man’s family home. His family would want to make sure that she is well-taken care of. If he misbehaves, they feel solely responsible for his actions, and will fight to solve the marital issues between their son and his wife.