A Novel award, the Matrimonial Jubilee Banquet Ball, instituted by the Excellence Awards Company, under the chairmanship of Pastor Mensah Otabil, has been launched in Accra.

It is the celebration of the matrimonial institution and the encouragement of the new breed of Ghanaian youth to emulate and fully understand the values of marriage in the society.

It aims at encouraging long lasting marriages in our society, to reduce divorce cases, to encourage young couples to stay married and get committed to each other and to help prevent pre- martial sex, and HIV/AIDS, among many other objectives.

The dinner ball will take place at the State Banquet Hall on Saturday, December 20, 2003. It will be broadcast live nationwide. In attendance will be a live band and performing artistes. As side attraction, there will be a special surprise raffle for attendants.

The couple who wins the first position will go on a trip to the UK or the USA, for one week and also take some special hampers. The second prize, which is jewellery made of diamond and gold will go to the couple who wins the second position. Then the third couple wins a hotel accommodation at a 3- 5 star hotel for a weekend.

Only 600 couples will qualify to attend the matrimonial Jubilee Banquet Ball and this will be on a first come, first served basis. The first 600 couples will have their names published in the newspapers.

The ball is for married couples who fall in any of the following categories:

• Diamond Jubilee - married for 75 years and over

• Golden Jubilee — Married for 50 years and over

• Silver Jubilee — Married for 25 years and over

• Bronze Jubilee — married between seven and 25 years.