More register marriages in 3 years

Annual statistics on registered marriages for both customary and ordinance, compiled by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), have revealed that over 19,154 marriages have been registered during the past three years.

According to the report, 5,473 marriages were registered in 2010 while 6,616 were registered in 2011 and 7,066 in the year 2012.

Interestingly, while the number of marriages is increasing, the number of divorce cases keeps wavering. For instance, in 2010, 455 marriages were dissolved and in 2011, 504 marriages suffered a breakdown. In 2012, however, 468 marriages could not hold together

In an interview with The Mirror, the Head Registrar of the AMA, Mr Fred Lumor, said besides his office which registered marriages in the Accra Metropolis, the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) was the other establishment that also officiated marriages in the city.

However, he said it was the sole mandate of the law courts to dissolve marriages. Under the circumstance, he said, many divorce cases did not get to the attention of the AMA.

At the RGD, it had over the last three years also recorded thousands of marriages. In 2010, there were 2,983 recorded marriages. In 2011, 3,295 marriages were registered and in 2012, the number of marriages that went into the register of marriages was 3,422.

Marriage in general is considered as a union between two consenting adults who are ready to cohabit or live together as husband and wife.

In Ghana, our society accepts customary marriage which is the traditional way of marriage. Marriage by ordinance is regarded as the orthodox, Christian or Islamic marriage.

Several factors, notable among which is the lack of communication between couples, have been identified as key issues that affect marriages in our society.

Others are intemperate language, spousal abuse, lack of empathy on the part of both parties in the marriage, lack of intimacy and proper planning prior to the long-term relationship and selfishness.