Spousal killings linked to socio-cultural norms
In 2012, the Human Rights Advocacy Centre (HRAC) published a media monitoring report on spousal murders and rival killings in Ghana. The report identified a number of cases of spousal murders in various locations in Ghana. It defined spousal murder as “the intentional killing of a current partner (including partners who are married, in an intimate relationship -living together or not), separated, divorced or otherwise estranged.
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Period of the investigation
According to the monitoring report, throughout the period of the investigation, from January 2010 to July 2012, there were 42 cases of wife killings, five cases of husband killings and six cases of rival murders reported in the media. And this represented an average of two spousal murders occurring every month in Ghana.
Evidence from this report also indicated that women were most at risk of being murdered and therefore shows that spousal murder has a gender dimension. Of all the categories identified, wife killing was the highest representing 42 cases out of a total of 53 cases. The most common motive for wife killing was that the females in these toxic relationships terminated the relationship, refused to re-establish a terminated relationship, alleged infidelity of the woman and also alleged infidelity of the man.
Out of the 53 cases which were recorded, there were only five cases of women killing their male spouses. In three of the five cases of husband killings, the women were motivated by self-defence after being subjected to abuse.
Emotional feelings
Many of these cases of spousal murders can be attributed to emotional feelings or feelings of possessiveness, control and dishonesty, which are derived from social and cultural factors.
This report, therefore, suggested that spousal murders and domestic violence were significant issues in Ghana with a high percentage of male perpetrators. Though the issue sounds alarming, no linkages have been made between spousal murders and domestic violence, neither have there been any institutional or programmatic interventions to address spousal murders.
Social and cultural norms
To eliminate this issue of spousal murder, we must recognise that it is linked to our social and cultural norms which fuel one gender to feel superior over the other. We must therefore develop and implement effective educative programmes which will contribute to disabusing this notion.
Many Ghanaians respect and revere religion and the institutions that regulate them. It is therefore important for these religious institutions to contribute to addressing the issue of spousal murders, especially because they are a primary institution in regulating marital relationships.
There also need to be widespread public education on the promotion of gender equality and encouraging the building of strong family values that gives equal opportunity to both men and women and respect for the role each plays in the society.
The writer is the Executive Director of the Human Rights Advocacy Centre