In Nyankomase, Yaa Mansah’s husband, Efo Yaovi, is running after her with a pestle that looks like it has just been pulled out of a busy mortar.
Minutes after catching up with her, Yaovi hits Mansah on the head with the pestle, which sends her tumbling down into an open drain. He stands akimbo, screaming and calling her name.
“Mansah get up, get up, and let me teach you a lesson. Let me teach you how a wife must talk to her husband.”
However, Mansah does not respond. Just then, spectators begin to gather and some restrain Yaovi while he rains insults on his wife.
Quickly, two young men entered and pulled Mansah out of the drain. There she was, motionless and breathless on the ground surrounded by the crowd.
This scenario is not strange to any Ghanaian.
When couples exchange their vows as parts of the rituals to solemnize their union, reciting the lines “to have and to hold…from this day forward, till death do us part,” who would have imagined that the ‘death’ that will sever the marital tie would be the result of the other’s action? That one day, perhaps in a moment of rage, the once beloved partner will pick up a gun, knife, and any other dangerous object and kill?
There has been an increase in the rate of spousal murders in Ghana. News reportage on spousal killings has reached an all-time high within the past years in the country.
Spousal killings, also known as spousal homicides, are one of the most devastating crimes that can occur within a family. These crimes involve the intentional killing of a spouse, whether it is a husband or wife, by the other partner.
Among the factors that drive people into spousal killings are infidelity, separation or annulment of relationships, a refusal of a marriage proposal, or ongoing arguments.
Spousal killings have a significant impact on families and communities. Survivors of domestic violence involving spouses often suffer from physical and emotional scars all their lifetime.
The trauma of spousal violence can also lead to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
What can be done?
It is important to understand that spousal killings are preventable. The warning signs include a history of domestic violence, substance abuse, stalking, and possessiveness. These warning signs must not be overlooked or ignored, if we want to prevent their fatal consequences.
To prevent spousal killings, early intervention is necessary. Spouses should seek counseling, therapy, and psychological advice when the need arises. Counseling can help couples learn how to communicate effectively, manage conflict, and build healthy relationships.
Again court proceedings have over the years been snail-paced. Authorities must therefore ensure that punishment is duly meted out to these social wreakers. Punishment has the undertones of correction, deterrence, and pacification of the offended victim(s). In other words, applying punitive measures to these murderous spouses in careful but speedy trials at competent courts of jurisdiction will prevent many spouses from conceiving the dangerous idea of killing a fellow human being when love turns sour.