Marriage Registration
There are three types of marriages in Ghana which are
regulated by law. They are:
- Ordinance
Marriage; regulated by Marriage Ordinance (CAP 127)
- Customary
Marriage; regulated by Customary Marriage and Divorce (Registration)
Law 1985 (PNDCL 112)
- Mohammedan
Marriage; regulated by Marriage of Mohammedans (CAP 129)
Requirements for the registration of Ordinance Marriage
- Photocopies
and originals of valid ID cards of parties (Ghana Card/ Passport/ Drivers’
License etc.)
- A
Consent Letter is required if one party is not present at the time of the
filing/registration of the marriage as proof of consent to the intended
marriage.
- Copies
of Divorce Certificates of a Party/Parties who have been married before in
the past should be submitted during the filing/registration of the
marriage.
- Foreigners
who intend to register their marriage with the Assembly should have
resided in the Country for at least 14 days prior to the filing/
registration of the marriage. They are also required to submit a Resident
Permit to the Marriage Registry.
Ordinance Marriage registration process
- Parties
to the marriage must file a notice of marriage at the Marriage Registry 21
days prior to the Signing of the Marriage Certificate. The following
information is required;
- Names
of Parties to the marriage
- Occupation
of Parties to the marriage
- Places
of Residence of Parties to the marriage
- Condition
of Parties to the marriage (Single/ Divorced/ Widowed)
- Fathers’
names and occupations of Parties to the marriage
- After
filing the notice of marriage, the Marriage Registry shall publish names
of the Parties on the Assembly’s’ notice board to inform the general
public of the intended marriage and allow person/persons who know of any
cause why the marriage should not be registered to raise a concerns
against the issuance of the marriage certification.
- The
Marriage Registry proceeds to register the marriage on a scheduled date
and time if no caveat is raised against the intended marriage. (Kindly
note that if the Marriage Certificate is not signed after 3 months of
filing the notice of marriage, the Parties will be required to refile the
notice as it would have expired)
- The 2
Parties together with 2 Witnesses each are required to be present to sign
the Marriage Certificate on the scheduled date and time after which the
Marriage Certificate is presented to the Parties.
Filing of Customary Marriage Registration/Dissolution
Requirements
- Filing
for the Registration/Dissolution of Customary Marriage shall be
accompanied by a Statutory Declaration indicating the following;
- Names
of the Parties to the marriage
- Places
of residence of the Parties at the time of the marriage/dissolution of
the marriage
- Date
and place of the marriage/dissolution of the marriage
- The
Statutory Declaration should be supported/signed by the parents of the
couple OR family representatives standing in loco parentis to the couple
- Photocopies
of valid ID cards of the Parties as well as Parents/Family
Representatives attesting to the Statutory Declaration
- After
receipt of a notice/application for the registration/dissolution of
Customary Marriage, the Marriage Registry shall publish the notice on the
Assembly’s notice board for 28 days. This is to allow any person/persons
who knows of any cause or valid reason why the Registrar should not
register the marriage to file an objection.
- The
marriage/dissolution shall duly be registered in the Customary Marriage
Register of the Assembly after 1. and 2. have been satisfied.
For further enquiries, kindly contact the Client Service Center
at the Berekum East Mnicipal Assembly’s main office.