The Apostolic Church Ghana has officially removed the kissing of the bride from all its wedding ceremonies, declaring the practice incompatible with Ghanaian cultural values and Christian principles, while also warning couples against immodest pre-wedding photoshoots.
The decision was approved by the Council of Apostles and Prophets (CAP) and formally adopted by delegates at the Church’s 6th General Council Meeting held at the TAC Conference Centre in Fafraha, Accra on Saturday.
The official statement from the Council read: “The Council of Apostles and Prophets has decided to expunge the ‘you may kiss the bride’ aspect from our wedding ceremonies owing to its inappropriateness within our cultural setting.” The Council noted that while such practices may be considered acceptable in Western cultures where they originated, they do not align with the values upheld by the Church.
Church President Apostle Dr. Aaron Ami-Narh explained that the directive was driven by a desire to protect the sanctity of marriage from practices he described as alien to both Ghanaian culture and the Church’s spiritual foundations. He emphasised that Christian values must govern the conduct of couples even before they approach the altar, and that the honour of marriage must be preserved rather than diminished by public displays considered inappropriate in the Church’s context.
The Council went further, cautioning members to stop engaging in what it described as awkward and immoral pre-wedding photoshoots, a reference to a trend in which couples pose in intimate or suggestive photographs that are then widely circulated on social media ahead of their ceremonies.
The announcement drew thunderous applause and cheers from delegates, who expressed support for the decision as a step toward shielding the youth from what they described as prevailing social media excesses.
The Apostolic Church Ghana, widely regarded as one of the oldest Pentecostal institutions in the country, is among the most prominent member churches of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC). The ruling takes effect immediately across all assemblies nationwide.
