MARRIAGE REGISTRATION UP IN ASHANTI (PAGE 35, MIRROR, FEB 27, 2010)

From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.

As many as 11,715 customary marriages and marriage by ordinance were registered in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs between 2006 and 2009. 
During the same period, 1,956 marriages were also annulled by the courts in the metropolis.
Records at the Registration and Divorce Department of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) made available by the Metropolitan Solicitor, Mr Anthony Osei -Poku, indicated that 8328 of the total were marriage by ordinance.
A total of 626 customary marriages were recorded in 2006 and this increased to 867 the following year.
 Mr Osei-Poku said the figure further increased to 1088 in 2008, but reduced to 816 last year.
On marriage by ordinance, he said 2094 were recorded in 2006, slightly reducing to 2086 in 2007.
He said the figure further reduced to 2050 in 2008, before increasing to 2098 in 2009.
Giving details on the number of divorce cases recorded since 2006, Mr Osei-Poku said the courts annulled 266 marriages in 2006 as a result of differences between the couples, making it impossible for them to enjoy marriage life.
He said the number of marriages that were dissolved by the courts in 2007 as a result of the irreparable difference between the couples were 130 and in 2008, the figure increased to 1225 before dropping to 335 last year.
Commenting on the number of marriages recorded over the last four years as compared to divorce cases, Mr Osei-Poku said “marriages far outweigh divorces”, stressing that “couples are now registering marriages in their numbers as a result of the benefits they derive from doing so”.
He explained that “the various Embassies request for evidence of marriages before issuing visas, and institutions also do the same before agreeing to transfer workers to their places of interest”.
He debunked the notion that the youth were not interested in marriage, saying “they are not only marrying in their numbers, but are also registering their marriages to enhance their status”.
He gave the age brackets of the youth who were registering their marriages as between 20 and 30, saying “unlike the past that males became advanced in age before committing themselves into marriage, the youth of today commit themselves when they are between 20 and 30 years of age”.
On divorce, Mr Osei-Poku said cases of customary divorce far outnumbered that of ordinance, explaining that “customary marriages are easier than that of ordinance, just as divorce from customary marriages easier than that of marriage by ordinance”.
He said “many of the youth who go into marriage do not appreciate the essence of marriage before fully committing themselves into it, so they seek for divorce with grievances that are not even permitted by law”.
He pointed out issues like a partner not offering the needed respect, getting annoyed easily, refusing to offer sex when required, among others, as not permitted by law as basis for seeking for divorce.
He therefore urged the leadership of churches to offer the needed counselling to would-be couples before agreeing to bless their marriages.
He said issues like brutal assault, denying of conjugal rights for two or more years, adultery and separation for more than two years among others are some of the issues that could lead to divorce.