Widowhood Rite: An Infringement on the Rights of Widows in Bongo

This article explores the multitude of widowhood rites performed in small communities in the Bongo district in the Upper East Region of Ghana that infringe widows’ human rights and freedoms. Widows are stigmatized in these communities, viewed as exuding bad luck that has caused her husband, and potential future husbands, to die. They are then made, against their will, to perform rituals such as water purifications whereby they are forced to strip naked and drink a sort of black concoction, then forced to marry their deceased spouse’s brother. The author notes that these rites constitute a violation of women’s fundamental rights, such as the right to human dignity. Lastly, recommendations are directed at The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the government to educate women on their rights and better implement existing policies regarding gender equality in Ghana.