Managing Partner at Law Plus, Dennis Adjie Dwomoh, has stated that the institution of marriage is fundamentally governed by legal principles, though these aspects are often overlooked.
In a recent interview on Joy News' "The Law Show," Mr Dwomoh explained that marriage is a legal institution deeply intertwined with the family structure. He argues that a focus on marriage policies is essential for national development. "Marriage is the foundation of the family, and if we want to develop as a nation, we must address marriage seriously," Dwomoh said.
He pointed out that while other countries have well-defined marriage policies, Ghana’s major political parties often neglect the topic in their manifestos. “We focus on infrastructure but overlook the value systems fostered by families,” he said. Dwomoh called for more discussions among stakeholders to improve the governance and institutional aspects of marriage.
He criticised the fragmented management of marriage in Ghana, where the Ministry of Interior, the Attorney General's Department, and the Ministry of Local Government each handle different aspects. “Each ministry operates independently, leading to a lack of coordination,” he noted.
Mr Dwomoh also clarified the types of marriages recognized by Ghanaian law: customary marriages, Islamic marriages, and Christian or civil marriages.
He explained that while customary marriages are registered at local assemblies, registration issues persist for Islamic marriages due to problems with the appointment of marriage officers by the Ministry of Interior. For Christian marriages, which are often monogamous, the Attorney General's Department appoints marriage officers.
A major challenge highlighted by Mr Dwomoh is the absence of a centralized marriage database. “Without a centralized system, data from remote marriages cannot be accessed in Accra, despite legal requirements,” he said. This lack of coordination complicates the management and accountability of marriage data.
He concluded by advocating for the integration of marriage records with national databases, such as the Ghana Card system. “As we develop a unified national identification system, it’s crucial to include marriage data for accuracy and consistency,” he emphasised.
Credit: Mavis Sekyibea Addo
