Ghana Panel Backs Simple Weddings Over Debt

Young couples across Ghana are getting permission to celebrate their love without breaking the bank, and it's coming from an unexpected source.

Panelists on Joy Prime's "The Brotherhood" unanimously backed Archbishop Duncan Williams after his advice to avoid wedding debt went viral. The respected cleric suggested couples consider simple mass ceremonies at local churches, skip the long bridal trains and expensive venues, and save their money for building their actual lives together.

"We just pronounce the blessing of God, you go home, make babies, live your life," Archbishop Williams said in the video that sparked the conversation. He even suggested young men should have at least 100,000 Ghanaian cedis saved before marriage as a safety net for the couple's future.

Dr. Desmond Kofi Annan spoke for many when he pushed back against social pressure during the show. He reminded viewers that Ghanaian law recognizes customary marriage, Islamic marriage, and ordinance marriage as equally valid unions.

"If I do a customary marriage and I don't have the capacity to do the flowery white wedding, I don't think it should be something I would be taken to the cleaners about," Dr. Annan said. He emphasized that people shouldn't live their lives trying to please society with elaborate ceremonies they can't afford.

Fellow panelists Zeal and Alvin agreed, encouraging young men to either build financial stability for a modern wedding or choose a modest ceremony and invest in their future instead.

The Ripple Effect

This conversation matters far beyond Ghana's borders. Wedding debt has become a global problem, with couples worldwide starting their marriages underwater financially. When respected voices give permission to prioritize financial health over social expectations, it creates space for younger generations to make smarter choices.

The discussion also highlights a beautiful truth: marriage is about the relationship, not the reception. By validating customary ceremonies and intimate celebrations, these leaders are helping couples focus on what actually matters.

Dr. Annan acknowledged that if a partner or their family insists on a larger ceremony, it requires honest conversation between the couple. But his core message stands: the wedding day lasts hours, while the marriage lasts a lifetime.

More young Ghanaians are now joining the conversation online, sharing their own plans for simple ceremonies and expressing relief at feeling supported in their choices.