Marriage counselor Theresa Wiafe has raised concerns over the uncertainty surrounding why many young people choose to get married, revealing that about 60% of couples lack a clear understanding of their motivations before tying the knot.
Speaking on Joy FM in Accra, Ms. Wiafe highlighted a troubling trend observed during premarital counselling sessions, where many young couples struggle to articulate genuine reasons for their decision to marry.
She noted that societal and parental pressures often cloud personal intentions, with numerous couples citing external expectations rather than personal readiness or commitment.
“One of the most common reasons we hear is that parents believe marriage will make them responsible,” Wiafe explained. “But marriage itself does not instill responsibility—being responsible is a personal quality that must exist beforehand.”
Wiafe emphasized that premarital counselling frequently reveals couples relying on vague or convenient explanations, such as having stable jobs or living independently, without deeper reflection on the true purpose of their union.
Her observations point to a need for greater self-awareness and intentionality among young people to build stronger, more fulfilling marriages based on mutual understanding rather than societal expectations.
