Her Ladyship Justice Dorinda Smith-Arthur, a High Court Judge in Kumasi, has stated that the act of Ghanaian couples conducting both customary and ordinance marriages waste of time and resources.
The High Court Judge explained that under Ghanaian law, the two marriage types are independently valid and legally recognised.
According to her ladyship, Dorinda Smith-Arthur, the performance of both ceremonies at the same time is unnecessary.
The High Court made this comment while presiding over a case filed by Akosua Serwaa Fosuh, who is seeking the court to declare her as the only lawful surviving spouse of the late Daddy Lumba.
In related news, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, the founder and General Overseer of Action Chapel International, has advised young men to avoid lavish weddings.
Duncan-Williams emphasised that men who borrow money to organise lavish weddings often face frustrations in their home due to the intense pressure from creditors.
According to Duncan-William, individuals must prioritise their lives and avoid spending all their earnings on weddings and end up in debt.
Preaching to his congregation, Duncan-Williams stated, “Most of the foolish things we do are to use our money for other things. For weddings, we go and buy all these white dresses and suits. We spend all the money on weddings.”
“So people have come, you’ve dressed nicely, but you are in debt, and they are calling for their money. Your phone is ringing, and somebody says, the money you collected, when can I have my money? And you can’t tell the lady that you borrowed some money to do shows”, he stressed.
He further recounted his own personal experience, adding that he got married at the 21 or 22.
Duncan-William revealed he got married because he felt pressured to do so.
He added, “You could tell that this guy is confused. I was like a sheep carried to the slaughter. I had no idea of what I was doing. I had no idea of what marriage was – I was just told I should marry, so me too, I married”.
“So let me say to some of you, when you get it all right, don’t do a wedding”, he counselled.
“If I were you, I would take that money that they are going to use for the wedding to do other things for the marriage itself. Just come to the office, sign the document, we bless you, you kiss one another, go home”, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams added.