Ghana has introduced a new digital platform that allows members of the public to verify marriage and divorce records, while also checking registered marriage officers, approved venues and licensed Imams.
The platform, called Marrify, was launched in Accra on August 28 by Marry Right Ghana Limited in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
Marrify operates as a searchable registry for marriage and divorce records, covering ordinance, customary and Islamic marriages.
Users can conduct searches using information including names, spouses’ names, towns, churches, denominations, certificate numbers and Gazette numbers.
The platform also provides access to a register of marriage officers authorised to conduct civil or ordinance marriages. Users can also check registered marriage venues and licensed Imams.
Platform designed to encourage verification
Information available on Marrify is obtained from institutions such as the Registrar-General’s Department, courts, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, as well as the Ghana Gazette.
Speaking during the launch, Ghana’s Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, advised prospective couples to verify information about their partners before getting married.
According to her, the platform would promote integrity and accountability by giving individuals the opportunity to independently verify key information concerning prospective spouses, marriage venues and officiating authorities.
Lartey encouraged members of the public to check the marital status of prospective partners through the platform instead of depending entirely on information supplied by individuals.
Government pushes for accurate records
The minister also urged Marry Right Ghana to work closely with government agencies, religious bodies, traditional authorities and other relevant stakeholders to ensure information on Marrify remains accurate and is updated regularly.
She noted that the ministry had been using its platforms to publicise the initiative and engage stakeholders as well as potential beneficiaries.
Marrify also features divorce records derived from court rulings and judgments. Some of these records are connected to the marriages they concern, allowing users to more easily track the status of a particular marriage.
Public cautioned about incomplete records
Despite the availability of the digital registry, Marrify informs users that records are still being uploaded to the platform.
As a result, a search that produces no result should not automatically be taken to mean that the person in question has never been married.
Individuals and institutions can also submit marriage and divorce records to Marrify, together with supporting documents, for verification.
The initiative is expected to simplify access to marriage-related information for Ghanaians and make it easier to conduct background checks before entering into marriages, while also creating a centralised digital platform for verifying official records.