Popular Ghanaian comedienne and broadcaster Valentina Nana Agyeiwaa aka Afia Schwarzenegger says she prefers to be called a prostitute than to stay in an abusive marriage that might cause her untimely death.
Reacting to the news about death of Mrs. Lillian Dedjoe, she noticed that people stay in abusive marriages because the society might tag them as prostitutes and others, saying that she would rather be a living prostitute than a dead wife.
Reports of the 43 year-old-woman, Mrs. Lillian Dedjoe who suffered series of physical abuse by her husband before meeting her untimely death has flooded both on social media and traditional media, with a section of the public advising women to leave abusive marriages.
Others are also calling for justice for the deceased whose husband has been charged with murder.
In a video, Afia Schwarzenegger who is a divorcee said, “In Ghana when a man troubles you and you leave the marriage they call you a prostitute. But I would rather be a living ‘Ashawo’ than a dead wife. If a man is abusing you, leave. A man who insults you will slap, and will hit you with something and kill you in the end.”
She added that, “ When you die, they will do justice for you but by then you might have dead and gone, and he will be enjoying. So my sister leave to live. You would rather be a living ‘Ashawo’ than a dead wife.”
Background
A business executive, Prince Charles Dedjoe was charged with murder of his wife, Mrs Lilian Dedjoe after allegedly beating her severely, resulting in her death.
On Tuesday, March 9, 2021, he was arraigned before the Madina District Court but his plea was not taken, as the court has no jurisdiction over murder.
The jurisdiction of district courts over murder is only limited to committal proceedings.
Marriage on rocks
According to the prosecution, the marriage between Dedjoe and Lilian had been on the rocks lately, a situation which led to numerous instances of misunderstanding between them, graphic online reports.
The prosecutor, Sergeant Eva Gidiglo, said on March 1, this year, Dedjoe assaulted his wife, which resulted in her sustaining varying degrees of injury, after which she sought treatment at the Madina Polyclinic.
“When Lilian returned home, her condition deteriorated. On March 6, she went into coma and was rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival,” she said.
Just about the same time, it was also reported that a Deputy Director of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) Philip Caezar Kumah has allegedly beaten his girlfriend to death at Akatsi North in the Volta region.
