Marriage under the Ordinance is a civil union open to any Ghanaian. Despite some confusion, it is entirely secular, not a religious or Christian marriage.
It is the only strictly monogamous form of legal marriage in Ghana.
Governed by the Marriages Act (Cap 127)Both of you come in person to the Marriage Registrar in the district where the marriage will take place, and complete the declaration form with the Registrar's help.
The Registrar publishes a notice of your intended marriage so that anyone with a lawful objection can raise it.
If no objection is raised within 21 days, the Registrar issues a marriage certificate.
Present the certificate to a licensed marriage officer. The marriage must take place within three months, or the certificate becomes void.
The declaration form asks this question. If the answer is yes, state the reason and bring a divorce certificate or death certificate. This is mandatory, and the document must be in English.
If neither of you is Ghanaian, you must show a residence permit or have stayed in Ghana for more than 15 working days.
If one of you is Ghanaian, this requirement does not apply.
The marriage must be celebrated within 20 days from the start date.