Betty Thomas, Executive Director of Saint Clare House for Children, speaks on Eye Radio’s Dawn Show on Dec. 10, 2025 – Photo: Darlington Moses.

A human rights defender has urged families to lower high bride prices, warning that the practice can promote gender-based violence by making women appear like commodities in dowry negotiations.

Betty Thomas, the executive director of Saint Clare House for Children, said some customary laws should be reviewed to ensure families demand lower bride prices.

She said reducing bride prices would ease pressure on young couples, support family wellbeing, and encourage respect for women and girls.

“It is indeed true this issue of marriage, especially from the men’s side, we as women, if I have a daughter and she finds a man who she wants to being at home, the family demand for a lot of money, or many cows and this complicates the marriage. This girl, when she goes to her house with her husband, she needs to be helped and taken care of, in addition, when some happens to her family, the husband also helps, because they are one family,” he said.

Betty also said women must be allowed to express their views in marriage matters, noting that it is their right to participate in decisions that concern them.

“So, there is no need for a high pride price or dowry, she will not be respected, they will mistreat her, she will be perceived as a commodity that was bought from somewhere, this is not good. Let’s change this attitude of high pride price in marriage,”she added.