Antecedents and Consequences of Early Marriage in Damongo in the West Gonja District

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore the antecedents and consequences of early marriage in Damongo in the West Gonja District in the Savanna Region of Ghana. Methodology: The interpretative phenomenological approach was adopted for the study. An interview guide was used to collect data from 10 women who have experienced early marriage. The snowball method was used to get the participants for the study. The recorded information was transcribed for the analysis. Findings: The study revealed that protection of the status of the family and poverty were the antecedents for early marriage. It was also found that lack of educated females and poverty were the consequences of early marriage. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: It was recommended that District Assemblies should open up some loan opportunities for parents to access so that they expand their sources of income to meet their financial obligations rather than pushing their girls into early marriage for financial gains. Keywords: Adolescents, early marriage, divorce, dowry, wife battering, poverty.