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A tractor mechanic believed to be in his 40s and resident of Katariga in the Sagnarigu District in the Northern Region died on the way to the hospital after he had been hit twice on the head with firewood by his second wife.
 
The man, whose name was only given by residents of the area as Mohammed, but popularly known as “Big Man”, is said to have fallen unconscious and bled from the nose. 

He has since been buried according to the Islamic tradition and custom.

The incident

According to some eyewitnesses, on Monday, August 15, 2016, a quarrel ensued between the deceased and his second wife, Azara, at their residence.

They alleged that since Mohammed married Azara and brought her to live with him and the first wife, there had not been peace in the house, as his two wives quarrelled every day.

The eyewitnesses alleged that the first wife, who could not live with the situation, packed out, leaving her children with Mohammed and Azara.

After the first wife left, Azara picked a quarrel with her husband and refused to cook for the family and so Mohammed called his first wife to return home and take care of the family.

On the day that the first wife returned to the house, a quarrel ensued between Mohammed and Azara, which led to his death.

Polygamy 

The practice of polygamy, which involves a man marrying more than one wife, is widespread in some parts of Ghana but entrenched in most Muslim communities across the country where men are allowed to marry up to four wives if only they are capable of taking good care of them 

However, there were divided opinions on the issue when this reporter sampled some views among some residents of the Tamale metropolis.

While some said polygamy was part of our culture and accepted in Islam, others said the choice to marry four women was optional. 

Some Muslim clerics who spoke on the issue said one could marry up to four provided one could take good care of them. 

Police 

When The Mirror contacted the Tamale Police, they said they had not received any report on the matter.

When this reporter contacted the family of the deceased for their comments and why they had not lodged a complaint with the police for the law to take its course, they said as Muslims their belief was that their relative died a natural cause and that Azara was just a tool God used to take Mohammed’s life.