Ghana Parliament Backs Polygamy

Press, Volume C, Issue 29480, 5 April 1961, Page 17

Ghana Parliament Backs Polygamy

[By HORACE CASTELL, N.Z.P. A.-Reuter Correspondent)

How many wives should a Ghanaian have? Two or three, suggested a woman member of Parliament amid applause from the predominantly masculine House. Three or four, declared another woman member to cheers from the men. As many as they like, claimed a man amid loud and prolonged cheers. This enthusiastic support for polygamy was a feature of a recent debate in Ghana's National Assembly on a Government bill seeking to remove all questions relating to bigamy and breaches of the marriage contract from the country's Criminal Code and place them under civil law. The bill was not approved. In spite o* Government explanations, most members had apparently made up their minds that the bill was, in some way, an obstacle to polygamy. And that they refused to countenance. Essentially Polygamous Ghanaian men, supported by the women, are essentially polygamous. Under present laws, they can choose between two forms of marriage. Customary (or tribal) laws allow them any number of wives. Civil Law limits them to one wife. Churches of all denominations also recognise only one marriage—the one contracted under Civil Law and consecrated in Church. The Government has, however, stated that it intends to revise the country's marriage laws in the near future, ending the present division between civil and customary laws. With a smile, the Minister of Justice, Mr Aaron OfforiAtta, told Parliament recently that the new legislation would take into account the fact that “Members of this House appear to want only one form of marriage—the customary form.” There is no doubt about this. Most Ghanaians would like to have, and, more often than not do have, more than one wife, though only the ambitious or the wealthy have more than two or three wives. On a farm, more than one pair of wifely arms is an obvious asset. In towns, too. where 80 per cent, of petty retail trading is done by women, the more wives a man has, the larger his total income, at least theoretically. Kept In Pocket Money Under customary laws, working wives must keep themselves, and the husband is only required, and this by tradition rather than by legislation. to pay for the education of the children. In addition. it is not unusual for the wives to keep their joint husband in pocket money. Most women’s groups are today insisting that while polygamy is acceptable, the man should be forced by law to contribute at least something towards the upkeep of his children, over and above educational costs. The pro-

posed new laws on marriage are expected to recognise and meet this demand. Polygamy under customary laws has rarely produced any household problems in Ghana. In villages, towns and cities, the several wives of a man often live happily together, sharing the farm or household chores and helping to look after all the children. Jealousy is rare, though if a man makes an obvious favourite of one of the wives, she quickly has to move to another house. The more educated girls however, while accepting a customary marriage, usually insist on having their own house, even if they cannot have their husband all to themselves. Need For Population Apart from tribal traditions, more helping hands in the house and an obviously deep - rooted desire for variety, Ghanaians have another important reason for polygamy the need to increase the population. Ghana’s population is comparatively small, about seven million, according to a census taken last year. Although the results of the count have not yet been completely analysed, it is known that women outnumber men by a fair percentage. “Our population must be increased, so men must be allov-ed to marry at least two or three women,” said Miss Comfort Asamoah, a woman member of Parliament, during the recent debate in Parliament Miss Mary Koranteng, another woman member, thought that men should be allowed three or four wives “and bring forth many children to enlarge the population.” And. she added while her male colleagues nodded approval, men should be allowed to marry many women—“and thus, perhaps, keep that number of young women away from the nightclubs.”