A Justice of the Court of Appeal has urged couples planning ordinance marriages in Ghana to ensure that both the church venue and the officiating minister are legally recognised to avoid complications with the validity of their unions.
Justice Alexander Osei-Tutu said many couples assume any church can conduct a legally recognised ordinance marriage, but the law requires strict compliance with specific procedures.
Speaking during an MPOBB Academy webinar on the theme “When Love Meets Property: Legal Rights in Marriage Under Ghanaian Law,” the judge explained that ordinance marriages in Ghana are strictly monogamous and must follow clear legal guidelines.
He revealed that even he personally verified whether a church was properly licensed before celebrating his own marriage.
“I ascertained whether the place was registered or licensed and they had not done that, so I said I would not celebrate my marriage here,” he said, stressing that couples must confirm that a church is authorised to conduct marriages under Ghanaian law.
According to him, the law allows ordinance marriages to be celebrated in churches, but certain conditions must be met. One key requirement is the publication of marriage banns for three consecutive Sundays, giving the public the opportunity to raise any legal objections.
The ceremony must also be conducted within a legally permitted timeframe.
“The law provides that ordinance marriage should be celebrated within a certain time frame — between 8am and 6pm,” he said, adding that ceremonies held outside that window could violate the law.
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