Data available at the Accra Metropolitan Assembly on customary marriage indicates that a total of 618 marriages were dissolved last year out of 1,511 marriages registered.
In January 2007 46, out of the 136 registered marriages were dissolved. The month of February saw 49 dissolutions out of 122 registered.
The Registrar of Marriages at the AMA, Mr. Emmanuel A. Tettey, attributed the low registration of marriages to a clause in the Customary Marriage and Divorce (Registration) Law 1985.
It states, 2. (1) “Where a marriage has been contracted under customary law, either party to the marriage or both parties shall apply in writing to the Registrar of Marriages (referred to in this law as “the registrar”) of the district in which the marriage was contracted for the registration of the marriage in the register of marriages in this law referred to as the “register”.
He explained that consequently partners who get married outside the region where they reside are not able to register at the A.M.A.
“It should be possible to register anywhere to encourage people to register their marriages,” he said. On the other hand, he said the clause helps to conduct thorough investigations before marriages are registered.
According to Mr. Tettey interference by in-laws and other family members continue to be a factor to the dissolution of marriages. He said counseling of all people involved in marriages should be intensified.
He stressed the need for partners wishing to come together in marriage to get to know each other thoroughly.
“People must learn to walk into marriage and not jump into it. In the past, people used to conduct comprehensive investigations about their supposed spouses / partners before they come together. The youth of today must follow such example.”
He said that when couples file for dissolution, they are granted some amount of room to think through their intended action.
“Even when people file for dissolution at the court it takes two years before the court grants a hearing to the issue. “ The registrar continued, “The idea is to give people time to think it over.”
He cautioned that there is no need for individuals to hesitate in marriage.
Rather, he said what is needed is sustainability. “We must come to the realization that no human being is perfect. Both must learn to say sorry for their offences in order not to prolong issues.”
Family interference, particularly parental one is said to be the major cause of divorce in Ghana. Due to the Ghanaian culture of extended family system, family members still hold a key position in an otherwise exclusive union between two people, (male and female) who are of age.
Unlike the European system where two people could meet and marry without the consent of their families, it is and would be an indignity for one to do that in Ghana.
Even though there is an acceptable age for one to marry and begin life with his or her partner, family members continue to play a role in the affairs of the couple. Public Agenda published the findings of a research on divorce in its Friday January 12, 2007 edition.
The report indicated that if marriages lasted more than ten years they were likely to survive. It stated the commonest time to separate was soon after seven years.
The research carried out by Tickbox.net also looked at the impact of divorce on 350 children. It found that only 13 per cent wanted their parents to get back together and only 13 per cent objected to them taking a new partner.
Children of divorced were also more likely to have doubts when they themselves married.
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