Abstract

Bride wealth payment is deeply rooted in most customary marriages in Ghana. This study examines how these entrenched practices undermine the development of the girl child, using the Bongo District in Ghana as a case study. Data were collected from 40 participants who were purposively selected in a case study design. Primary data were generated through interviews, and thematic data analysis was utilized. The study found that bride wealth payment among the study community took the form of animals and other items presented to the girl’s family. The girl’s family also preserves the bride wealth for the future settlement of the bride wealth of men who marry into the family and for the purchase of food during periods of scarcity, among other things, including the settlement of debts. This, the study revealed, has negative effects as it contributes to girl child marriage, undermining her physical, health, and educational development. Additionally, the girl child experiences early and challenging parental responsibilities and has lower bargaining power. The study recommends sensitization of the public by the government through security agencies and the Social Welfare Department, along with rigorous enforcement of the law prohibiting marriages below the legal marriage age of eighteen (18) years. This will go a long way to discourage the practice and, at the same time, safeguard the development of the girl child.

Key words: Customary marriage, child, bride wealth, development, education.