Pastor John Wesley Amenuku Agble is a Ghanaian preacher

A Ghanaian pastor, John Wesley Amenuku, has sparked controversy after calling on Christians to abandon traditional marriage ceremonies, describing the practice as “barbaric.”

Pastor Amenuku, known for his outspoken and sometimes controversial views, argued that Christians should not participate in customary marriage rites because, in his view, the practice is inconsistent with Christian principles.

His comments have since generated debate on social media, with some users challenging his position and questioning whether traditional marriage can simply be dismissed as incompatible with Christianity.

‘Christians should stop doing it’

According to the pastor, Christians should reconsider their participation in traditional marriage ceremonies rather than treating the practice as an obligatory part of getting married.

His position challenges a practice that remains deeply embedded in Ghanaian society, where customary marriage is recognised alongside ordinance and religious forms of marriage.

For many Ghanaian families, traditional marriage is not merely a ceremony but an important cultural process that formally brings two families together.

The pastor’s comments therefore touch on a much broader question: where should Christians draw the line between cultural traditions and religious convictions?

A controversial position

Pastor Amenuku’s comments have attracted criticism from some social media users, with some describing his position as unnecessary and questioning the reasoning behind his condemnation of customary marriage.

Others, however, may see his argument as part of a wider debate within Christianity about whether certain traditional practices should be retained, modified or abandoned when they conflict with a believer’s interpretation of scripture.

The controversy also highlights the complicated relationship between Christianity and Ghanaian culture.

Christianity has existed alongside indigenous Ghanaian customs for generations, and many Ghanaian Christians continue to combine religious ceremonies with cultural practices during important events such as marriage, funerals and naming ceremonies.

Where culture meets Christianity

Traditional marriage in Ghana typically involves the families of the couple and can include negotiations and presentations between the two families before the union is formally recognised.

The ceremonies differ considerably among Ghana’s ethnic groups, meaning there is no single traditional marriage ceremony that applies across the country.

For supporters of the practice, customary marriage is an important way of respecting family, ancestry and cultural identity.

For critics such as Pastor Amenuku, however, some aspects of traditional practices may conflict with Christian beliefs.

That tension has existed for generations and is unlikely to disappear simply because one side rejects the other.

Debate continues

Pastor Amenuku’s comments have consequently opened another debate about Christianity, culture and marriage in Ghana.

Should Christians completely abandon traditional marriage ceremonies, as the pastor suggests, or can cultural marriage rites coexist with Christian faith when practices that conflict with Christian beliefs are removed or adapted?

For now, his remarks have ensured that the question is firmly back in the public conversation.

What do you think? Should Ghanaian Christians abandon traditional marriage ceremonies, or can culture and Christianity coexist in marriage?

“You’re born into and dedicated to the church as a Christian, yet you go back to your village to collect your marriage list from an Abusuapanyin who has never set foot in a church?—Stop that hypocrisy”

—Rev. John Wesley Amenuku Agble slams the practice of families requesting… pic.twitter.com/1sxoOSTc8R

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) August 19, 2026