Accra, May 15, GNA - Dr Rabiatu Ammah-Konney, Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, has urged Muslims to desist from extravagant marriage ceremonies, which she said was the major cause of broken matrimonies.

She said divorce among Muslims had become a common phenomenon due to the inability of spouses to pay back expensive debts contracted for marriage ceremonies. Dr Ammah-Konney made the observation at a day's seminar for Muslim women on the theme: 93Marriage a divine Miracle: The Islamic perspective," in Accra on Saturday. She said marriage was a divine institution and both parties should be comfortable with all the terms and conditions. She said for one to be successful and have a marriage as a Muslim, it was important to practice exactly what the Holy Quran and Hadich teaches. Dr Ammah-Konney noted that before one gets into marriage, the social, cultural, religious and economic aspects should be considered, to help promote a successful union. She asked Muslim youth to be particular about the kind of people they choose as spouse and 93desist from pre-marital sex and seek counselling before entering into marriage". Mr Mohammed Deku, Managing Director of Sapllullah Company Limited, organisers of the programme said the event was to create awareness and change the attitude of Muslims especially women towards marriage.

Mr Dauda Okine, an Islamic scholar, said effective communication, trust, confidence and transparency should form a common tool in every marriage. He noted that all marriages were unique in the sight of Allah and that both spouses must make sure to avoid unnecessary comparisms and solve all marital problems themselves. He advised spouses to be tolerant and understand each others views in order to close the communication gap.