Dynamics That Exist in the Understanding and Reasons for the Performance of Parallel Marriage Ceremonies

This research sought to explore the understanding and reasons for the performance of parallel marriage ceremonies in Winneba in the Efutu Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana. A qualitative approach was used to provide a successful conduct of the research given the complexity of the phenomenon under study. The research design used for the study was case study. The targeted population for the study were married people who performed parallel marriage ceremonies, adults who have reached their marital age but are not married, parents, opinion leaders (pastors) and marriage counsellors. In all fifteen individuals were chosen as the target population for the study. This consist of five (5) married individuals who performed parallel marriage ceremonies, four (4) unmarried individuals who have reached their marital but are not married, two (2) opinion leaders, two (2) parents and two (2) marriage counsellors. The convenience sampling technique was used to select the elements such as married individuals who performed parallel marriages ceremonies, adult who have reached their marital age but are not married, parents and opinion leaders (pastors). Also, critical case sampling technique was used to sample the marriage counselors involved in the research work. A semi-structured interview guide was used for data collection. The items in the interview guide were structured from the various themes under the literature review which have a direct link with the research questions. Participants had some level of understanding of the concept parallel marriage ceremonies, just that most of them referred to the customary marriage as “the engagement.” In addition, most of the participants were not in the known of the Marriages Act 1884-1985 CAP. 127. Although most of the married participants claimed to have married or registered their marriage under that Act, they could not tell the detailed demands of the Act. Furthermore, the participants did not know the dynamics that exist in the performance of church marriage (church blessing and solemnisation of holy matrimony) and the issuance of marriage registration certificates. The performance of parallel marriage ceremonies is perceived by many as a way of ensuring faithfulness in marriage. Also, many have taken the performance of the parallel marriage ceremonies as a means of acquiring security and legitimacy for themselves and the children born in the union. Based on the conclusions it is therefore recommended that the concept of marriage contraction and the Marriages Act 1884-1985, CAP. 127 should be added to the senior high school curriculum to help educate the youth about the dynamics in the marriage contraction and registration process. Also, marriage counsellors should help would-be couple clear their doubt on the customary marriage ceremony as being engagement. In addition, the church and the media houses should educate the citizenry on the existing laws that protect the interest of the couple and their children even when one of them or the both are no more, example is the PNDCL 111.