- A 12-year-old girl's marriage to a 63-year-old Chief Priest in Ghana is sparking outrage.
- Former Minister Nana Oye Bampoe Addo calls the marriage a crime and demands legal action.
- The minimum legal age for marriage in Ghana is 18.
Former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, has emphasized the illegality of the marriage between a 12-year-old girl and a 63-year-old Chief Priest, regardless of parental consent.
She urges the state to take legal action against those involved in the marriage ceremony, citing violations of the Children Act, the 1992 Constitution, and international conventions on children’s rights.
Bampoe Addo stresses that Ghanaian law mandates a minimum marriage age of 18 and calls upon government agencies to intervene and protect the girl.
“I expect the government, the police, the Ministry of Gender to intervene…and ensure that the legal processes are initiated” she stressed in an interview.
“Whether the parents are consented or not is immaterial, our law is very clear that the minimum age of marriage of whatever kind shall be 18 years. You can only get married in Ghana if you are 18 years and above, she added.
The Nungua Traditional Authority explained the rationale for the marriage which raised concerns among the public.
The Office of the Overlord of Ga Dangme clarified that the marriage is strictly for traditional purposes as she will not be performing any conjugal rite.
Nungua Mankralo Tetteh Nii Gbotery Kofi Frankwa explained that the minor would only be assisting the Overlord with his duties at the temple as a virgin.
Speaking in an interview, he said “This is the second wife she is almost 90 years old, can one say that the Gborbu Wumlormo is having what concerns are being raised with her? Obviously no. But is a customary duty It is a customary duty for Naa Yomo to perform and that customary duty calls for a virgin “
“Her childhood has never been denied, there are many chiefs and queens that were installed chiefs and queens when they were even in their mother’s belly, their rights were never taken away, indeed it enhanced and gave them certain privileges that ordinary children will not even have.”
By the customs of their community, Naa Okromo now assumes the traditional name Naa Ayemoede.
But this union is not complete without further rites. Naa Ayemoede is to undergo a second customary ceremony, one centered on purification.
This rite will empower her to fulfill all the duties expected of her as the wife of the Gborbu Wulomo, including the crucial role of procreation.
