Ghana has introduced a new digital platform that enables members of the public to verify marriage and divorce records, as well as authenticate marriage officers, venues and licensed Islamic marriage officiants.
Known as Marrify, the platform was launched in Accra on August 28 by Marry Right Ghana Limited in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
The digital registry provides searchable records covering ordinance, customary and Islamic marriages, allowing users to conduct checks with information such as names, spouses’ names, towns, churches, denominations, certificate numbers and Gazette numbers.
Beyond marriage records, Marrify features a register of officials authorised to conduct civil or ordinance marriages. It also provides information on licensed marriage venues and Imams.
The platform draws its records from several official sources, including the Registrar-General’s Department, courts, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, as well as the Ghana Gazette.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, urged prospective couples to carry out proper checks on their intended spouses, marriage venues and officiating authorities before proceeding with marriage plans.
She said, “It is a reminder of the need to uphold the highest standard of integrity and accountability.
“You would not have to take a person’s word for it, even in the most trusted relationship. You can verify with this app. And then again, when making a decision on the venue, who has to officiate the marriage, where it is officiated, the officiant, and the status of the one you are getting married to.
“These are the critical issues we need to ponder over, verify and be sure of before taking the needed step. As a ministry, we’ve used our platform to promote the app and engage with our stakeholders and potential beneficiaries. To ensure that Ghanaians live in awareness. So that you do not invest for so many years, resources and find out that all the investment has gone in vain.”
Lartey also called on Marry Right Ghana to strengthen collaboration with government agencies, religious organisations, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that information contained on the platform remains accurate and is regularly updated.
Marrify also incorporates divorce records arising from court rulings and judgments, with some entries linked to the corresponding marriage records.
However, the platform warns users that the digitisation process is still ongoing. Consequently, failure to find a record through a search does not necessarily mean that the person has never been married.
Individuals and institutions can also submit marriage and divorce records, alongside relevant supporting documents, for verification and inclusion on the platform.
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