It was a great moment at the Buea Council hall as the 20th edition marking the International Day of Family witnessed mass marriages of some 24 couples on Thursday, May 15.

The collective marriage ceremony was witnessed and encouraged by the Southwest Delegate of Women Empowerment and the Family (MINPROFF), Judith Liengu Moufay, who congratulated the couples on such a giant step in an era where living as concubines is prevalent.

The delegate explained that, legalising marriage goes a long way to avoid family squabbles over property of deceased family members.

One of the couples whose name we got as Susan, said they have lived together for 37 years and have 7 children who are all married legally. According to her, marrying legally on this day made her feel as if she has fallen in love with her partner again. Some of the couples hold that they have been misled by bad advices from friends and also the high cost of court marriage (FCFA 50.000) which has hindered them from marrying legally.

Speaking at the occasion, the Social Adviser at the Governor’s Office, Julius Tata, challenged the couples especially men to remain assiduous and shun habits that could cause tension and even divorce in their respective homes.

The occasion rekindled love hopes and nurtured a feeling of fairness among couples who had been married for years without any official documents legalizing their union.

According to MINPROFF officials, the mass marriage exercise was initiated because most Cameroonians neglect the importance of marriage certificates, coupled with a on lack of basic finances to carry out court marriages.

This initiative of mass marriage was instituted by the Cameroon Government since 2007 to ease the marriage process in the country by collectively organizing mass marriages for free of charge to citizens.