Report from the office of the Registrar, Obuasi Municipal Assembly, indicates that, out of 601 marriages registered in 2013, there have been 3 divorce cases.

According to Mr. Alexander K. Basie, chief personnel at the Registrar’s office, 528 were marriages registered under the law of ordinance and 73 were customary marriages.

In an exclusive interview with Shaft Fm’s Awuku Malik, he disclosed that, though people are getting married it seems most couples lack discipline in marriages.

He said: “Marriage is not for boys and girls. It is something ordained by God to bring two matured people together as one body. Marriage is a way two committed people come together in an agreement to be called husband and wife. We do not need to play with this at all”.

He added that, when two people agree to enter into marriage, it is as a result of their love for each other and that couples must cherish marriage, because it is for better and for worst.

“Sometimes, couples seek for divorce over minor and unnecessary issues which could be solved in the home. Nobody is an angel on this earth, we are all not perfect. The fact that your spouse does certain things you do not like does not give room for divorce. These are little things every married couple encounter”, he explained.

He also advised all to seek counseling and guidance before going to the altar.

“As we are aware, God created marriage as a way for man and woman to multiply the earth, so marriage is a very good thing. I urge each and everyone, especially those getting ready for marriage to seek for good guidance and counseling from well trained marriage counselors and men of God but not just anybody at all.

He pointed out that, people confused themselves with blessing, engagement and wedding.

He explained that, wedding is the same as engagement and that, it is lack of understanding that has caused these hap in the Ghanaian society.

He said: “In our Ghanaian culture, the moment the two families meet to do the necessary requirements of marriage, both couples are declared husband and wife, yet some also mistake the traditional marriage to be engagement and called the officiating of marriage in the church as wedding. That is the mistake Ghanaians are making which I do not understand.

Engagement is rather, the first time that, the man and his family goes to see the woman he wants to marry’s family to seek for permission for their daughters hand in marriage, which is called “tiri nsa” in akan. The moment the man puts a ring on the woman’s finger, she becomes a wedded wife, whether in church, home or even a garden”, he emphasised.