4,080 couples divorce in Accra

• Posted on July 11, 2014July 11, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

A total of 4,080 divorce cases were recorded in Accra alone over the last eight years.

According to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), the divorced marriages were mainly customary ones and occurred between 2006 and 2013.

Only the law courts have records of divorce in relation to ordinance marriage while the AMA keeps records of customary marriage and divorces.

Between January and April this year, the AMA recorded 204 divorce cases.

The highest divorce cases were recorded in 2006 – 633 cases; 2007 – 618; 2008 – 566; and 2011 – 504.

The year 2009 recorded the least number of cases of 407. This was followed by 427 cases in 2013, 468 in 2012, and 426 in 2010.

Within the same period, customary marriages registered are 2006 – 3,443; 2007 -1,541; 2008 – 2,087; 2009 – 2,309; 2010 – 3,426; 2011 – 4,082; 2012 – 4,270; and 2013 – 2,807.

Mr Fred Lumor, Head of Marriage Registry at AMA, said the figure could be higher if divorce cases for ordinance marriage were added.

He said even though notice of ordinance marriage is filed with the AMA and ordinance marriage conducted at the AMA, divorce figures are not filed at AMA.

He noted that under ordinance marriage, the couple files notice with AMA for 21 days and if no objection is received, a certificate is issued to them to go ahead and get married.

Mr Lumor explained that after receiving the certificate, the couple has two months to get married, which they can do at a recognised church, Registrar General’s Department or at the AMA.

He was quick to add that objections can still be raised on the day of the marriage.

On customary marriage, he said the couple has to pick up a form at Ghana Publishing, fill, sign and go to court to prepare statutory declaration to be done with their parents or relatives present.

Mr Lumor said the statutory declaration signed by a notary public officer is submitted to the AMA for scrutiny and approval.

Lawyers and marriage counsellors who spoke to The Finderattributed a number of factors for the increasing incidence of divorce cases.

One reason for divorce is the case of husbands beating their wives as a result of drug and alcohol use, financial difficulties, unemployment or frustrations.

Another reason is infidelity on the part of both parties as a result of prevailing conditions at home, especially when women are the bread winners of the family and some engage in infidelity to rake in additional money to make ends meet.

The lawyers and marriage counsellors also mentioned the inability of a partner to satisfy the other sexually, as well as making the home not welcoming.

They stated that the inability of the man to provide for the needs of the family, such as feeding, housing and medicals, as a result of unemployment or underemployment also contributes to divorce.

-The Finder