Two well-known marriage counsellors have openly disagreed with the advice given by Pastor Mensa Otabil, the founder and leader of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), about the necessity of wealth before marriage. In a sermon, Pastor Otabil encouraged single individuals not to wait until they accumulate wealth before getting married.
He shared his personal story of starting his marriage with very little and stated “If you’re waiting to be rich before you marry, then your head is not working properly.” He also addressed the issue of cohabitation, saying, “You don’t want to marry, but you’re sleeping together. You want what’s reserved for marriage without going through the process.” Be bold and marry.”
However, Counselor George Lutterodt, responding on the Class Morning Show on Class 91.3FM, strongly disagreed. “No woman should allow a poor man to marry her. A man that cannot feed himself three times a day, cannot provide a befitting shelter. Any man who cannot provide a befitting shelter for us is not qualified for marriage,” he argued. Lutterodt added, “If a man is not financially stable, he’s disqualified to marry.”
Counsellor Charlotte Oduro also weighed in on the same show, acknowledging the challenges of marriage without financial stability. “The man must have a little comfortability for the woman to be comfortable. This is reality… at least if you want to get married to somebody’s daughter, please check yourself and make sure you’re comfortable, make sure you can take responsibility because it comes with a lot,” she advised. The debate has sparked conversations about the balance between love and financial readiness in marriage.
