In an era where women’s education soars alongside ticking biological clocks, debates rage over the “ideal” age for marriage, especially for Ghanaian women navigating careers, culture, and family pressures. Experts urge a nuanced approach: all things equal, women should aim to marry between 25 and 30, prioritising fertility windows while pursuing ambitions.
Dr. Ama Serwah, a Kumasi-based gynaecologist and fertility specialist, emphasises biology’s unyielding timeline. “Women’s fertility peaks from 20-30, declining sharply after 35 due to reduced egg quality and quantity,” she explains. By 40, risks of miscarriage, chromosomal issues, and conditions like preeclampsia rise dramatically. Men, too, face fertility dips post-50, with declining sperm motility and higher DNA damage, as recent studies from the World Health Organisation confirm. “All things equal, marrying by 28 allows time for 2-3 children before 35, minimising complications,” Serwah advises.
Does education demand waiting until 30? Not at all, counters Prof. Kwame Osei, a University of Ghana sociologist. “Education empowers, but it shouldn’t compel delays. Many complete degrees or even PhDs while married or parenting.” Data from Ghana’s 2021 Population Census shows educated women marrying later—averaging 27 versus 22 for less-educated peers yet 40% of highly educated women over 35 remain childless, per a 2024 Ghana Statistical Service report. Marrying or birthing pre-PhD isn’t “wrong”; it reflects personal choice. “Pausing studies for family doesn’t derail careers, think of successful Ghanaian academics like Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo, who balanced both.”
Critics argue that higher education “denies” marriage, citing cultural norms where men seek younger brides. Yet, Serwah retorts, “Childless degrees pale against a life rich with children. Emotional fulfilment from family often trumps titles, backed by happiness studies from Harvard’s Grant Study.”
For women with “limited time” due to fertility concerns, the message is clear: no one-size-fits-all, but society shouldn’t dictate. “Educate, empower, but listen to your body,” Osei urges. Ghanaian couples succeeding early prove that education and family coexist; the real ideal is intentional timing.
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