A marriage counselor has advised contemporary youth not to rush into marriage and rather prepare themselves spiritually, emotionally and financially before going into the “life-long union”.
The Very Reverend Dr Isaac Ishmael Arthur, the Counselor and Chaplain of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana news agency in Sunyani, saying most marriages were collapsing because many couples were immature.
He explained marriage was God’s pre-ordained union between “man and woman” not ”boys and girls”, and advised the youth desiring to marry to go for at least six months counseling.
The counseling would enable both parties to study and know each other well, identify their weaknesses and plan for their future, he said.
Very Rev Dr Arthur, who is the Minister in charge of the Estate Calvary Methodist Church in the Sunyani Municipality, entreated the clergy and parents to allow their children to choose their partners, but instead support them in prayers to select the right spouses.
He also admonished parents to guard against unnecessary interference, by allowing couples to settle their marital problems, saying marital crisis might occur, but couples must admit their faults as individuals and move forward in unity.
Very Rev Dr Arthur reminded that divorce had serious repercussions not only on children, but entire society, and advised couples to stay away from divorce and endeavour to settle their differences in times of crisis.
He advised couples to show love and kindness, and remain honest and faithful to each other particularly in times of trouble.
