News
More Ghanaians opt for ordinance marriage
Mr Prosper Akanni
An increasing number of Ghanaians are opting for ordinance marriages compared to customary marriages, Mr Francis Akanni, an Assistant Director for Local Government Service at the Ga West Municipal Assembly has disclosed.
This, he explained was because of the perception that customary marriages do not need registration.
Mr Akanni made the disclosure on Tuesday during a panel discussion at a Marriage Governance conference.
The conference was aimed at bringing stakeholders and experts together to foster a deeper understanding and promote best practices in marriage governance.
He said statistics on marriage registration for 2023 indicated that about 12,000 marriages were registered under ordinance and less that 300 for customary marriages.
Mr Akanni was of the view that customary marriages should be registered and certified to serve as an evidence to either of the couples.
He explained that customary marriages were the preserve of Ghanaians only, clarifying that a Ghanaian man cannot marry a foreign lady under customary marriage, however, a foreigner (male) can marry a Ghanaian woman customarily.
An Assistant State Attorney at the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) and Ministry of Justice, Ms Winnie Myers said it was necessary to register one’s marriage for evidential purposes.
She said usually the importance of registering marriages do not come up when everything goes well but the narrative changes when either of them passes on.
She said it is easier sharing properties of a deceased if there was a proof of marriage between the living spouse and the dead.
She said the RGD do not register customary marriages, or the Mohammedan marriages but rather receive returns of marriage books issued.
This according to Ms Myles helps the department to confirm validity of certificates but said “these remittances of the certificates are not done so we cannot confirm.”
She said marriage books of marriages conducted about 10 or 20 years ago could not be found at the assembly and it poses a challenge to the department, adding that most often embassies write to them to confirm validity of certain certificates they receive.
A Justice of the Court of Appeal, Mr Barima Yaw Oppong Kodie, said there was sufficient recognition for customary marriages but unfortunately it has been termed “engagement.”
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
