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 knows of any cause why the marriage should not be registered to raise a caveat

against the issuance of the marriage certificate.

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)

MARRIAGE REGISTRATION

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 Marriage Registry of the Ablekuma West Municipal Assembly on the following