New law to ensure that 18-year-olds marry without consent

The Sekondi-Takoradi Registrar of Marriages, Mr Francis Adams, has announced that the country would soon pass a new marriage guideline that would ensure that 18 –year- old persons marry without parental consent.

He said the new guideline was being debated by marriage legal pundits and would be promulgated by the end of the year.

Mr Adams told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Sekondi that the new marriage guideline hinged on the 1992 Constitution, which allowed 18-year old persons to vote for any political party of their choice without the consent of their parents.

He said it was therefore possible for them to marry without parental approval.

Mr Adams cautioned couples to inquire about the legal status of the officiating clergy at their weddings to know whether they had the legal status to preside over the ceremony.

He explained that marriage was supposed to be conducted at registered centres.

Mr Adams said the registry registered 670 marriage ordinance and five customary marriages last year.

Source: GNA