The Phenomenon of Child Marriage Among Muslims in Ghana: Focus on Wala Muslims within Wa Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

This paper examined the phenomenon of child marriage among Wala Muslims within Wa Municipality in Ghana. The study was largely informed by the popular perception that the phenomenon of child marriage is more common in the northern parts of Ghana and that the Islamic culture endorses it. The study focused on the Wala Muslims as a result of several reasons. Among these reasons is that the Wa Municipality in northern Ghana is predominantly a Muslim settlement and is regarded as a poverty-endemic area. Previous studies on the Wala people have focused on their history, Islam and social change. However, the role of religion, poverty, illiteracy, and their influence on child marriage seems to escape scholarly attention. Hence, the a need for this study. The author employed a multi-faceted approach to examine the issues. Both primary and secondary sources of data were analysed. The article argued that child marriage is not widely practised in the study area. It is not also endorsed by Islam. Notwithstanding there were manifestations of child marriage practices in various forms. The study recommended that steps should be taken to educate the Muslim public on child marriage issues. The study contributes to knowledge of child marriage in the context of the Wala Muslim setting which received no or very minimal scholarly attention. Keywords: Child Marriage, Muslims, Wala Muslims, Northern Ghana