WHAT CULTURE OF MARRIAGE IS GHANA PRACTICING?

Marriage customs in Ghana are as varied as the country’s many ethnic groupings. Traditional marriage rituals in Ghana vary, yet there are also some shared elements. Marriage in many parts of Ghana is considered as a union of two families, rather than just two people. That’s why it’s so important for the bride’s and groom’s families to be involved in the wedding preparations.

The payment of a bride price is a traditional part of Ghanaian wedding customs. The money is given as a token of appreciation from the groom or his family to the bride’s family. The bride fee varies in size from one culture to the next and from one family’s economic standing to another’s.

The involvement of extended family members is very significant in Ghanaian marriage traditions. In many cultures, the bride’s and groom’s families play crucial roles in all aspects of the wedding, from setting the bride price to organizing the reception.

The wedding ceremony itself is highly significant in Ghanaian culture. Weddings in Ghana are multi-day events that are celebrated with great pomp and circumstance. Various rites and customs, such as libation pouring, gift giving, and donning of traditional garb, are often a part of the celebration.

There are both traditional and contemporary marriage ideologies present in Ghanaian society. In addition to or in place of the traditional ceremony, many modern Ghanaians choose for a civil wedding instead. A civil ceremony is usually a smaller, less formal event held in a courthouse or other governmental building.

Marriage customs in Ghana are as varied and colorful as the country’s various cultural traditions and ethnic groupings. No of the method used, marriage continues to play a significant role in Ghanaian culture and society.