Agents and challenges associated with the celebration of parallel marriage ceremonies in Winneba township in the Efutu municipality of Ghana

Abstract

This study explores the various agents that influence the performance of parallel marriage ceremonies and their associated challenges in Winneba Township in the Efutu Municipality of Ghana. The interpretivist paradigm with a qualitative approach was employed for the study. The research design used for the study was a 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 involved in the study. This consists of five (5) married individuals who performed parallel marriage ceremonies, four (4) unmarried individuals who have reached their marital age but are not married, two (2) opinion leaders, two (2) parents and two (2) marriage counsellors. The purposive sampling technique was used to select all the participants. The primary data collection instrument was a semi-structured interview guide. It was revealed that the challenges associated with the parallel marriage ceremonies were linked to three key agents. The agents are the church, the family, and the
society. It was also revealed that almost all the participants alluded to the huge financial burden on couples who perform parallel marriage ceremonies. It is therefore recommended that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) collaborate with the National Christian Council to sensitise the church, the family and the general society through the media to understand the dangers they pose to the would-be couples when they indirectly force them to perform parallel ceremonies.