The General Overseer of Action Chapel International Ministries, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, has criticized the growing culture of expensive marriages in Ghana, describing it as unnecessary, stressful, and harmful to young couples.
According to the Archbishop, marriage can be simple and meaningful without the excessive financial demands that have become common in recent times. He noted that many young men and women in his church frequently come to him for prayers, overwhelmed and emotionally stressed by the high cost of marriage preparations.
Archbishop Duncan-Williams particularly questioned some aspects of traditional marriage rites, including excessive demands such as “akonta sika” and other items, which he described as unnecessary. He stressed that daughters are not for sale and that marriage should not be treated as a commercial transaction.
He lamented that marriage in Ghana is gradually turning into an industry, where families and couples feel pressured to overspend. By the time couples complete the traditional marriage, church wedding, and lavish receptions, they are often left exhausted—financially and emotionally.
“Too much waste, too much stress, too much fatigue, and too much tension,” he said, warning that such pressure often becomes the starting point of conflict in marriages.
The Archbishop urged families and communities to simplify marriage processes, reduce unnecessary demands, and focus on the true purpose of marriage—love, commitment, and unity.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku