CRI leads campaign to dissolve ‘marriage’ between 12-year-old girl and 63-year-old man

The Executive Director of Child Rights International (CRI), Mr Bright Appiah, has called for a total abandonment of traditions and customs that endangers the lives of children.

He said no matter how effective and mandatory traditional and customary rites are, its practice should not in any way disadvantage children nor cast a snare on their wellbeing.

• Mr Bright Appiah, Executive Director, Child Rights International

Mr Appiah’s comment follows the trending story of supposed customary marriage between Gborbu Wulomo Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII and a young girl named Naa Okromo.

The 63-year-old was said to have gotten married to a 12-year-old girl in a traditional ceremony which took place at Nungua in the Great­er Accra Region.

The ceremony, which is trend­ing on the various social media platforms, has attracted varied responses with majority of Ghana­ians kicking against the union.

He emphasised that if any mar­riage involving a child is confirmed, it must be swiftly dissolved to pre­vent further harm and ensure the protection of the child’s rights.

“If there is any marriage, it should be dissolved else child right would come in to protect the child, she is a minor and irrespective of the rites performed, the law would not allow a person below the age of 18 to be involved in such mar­riage rite be it for the stool or the priest in involved,” he added.

He also explained that although tradition had existed for decades and had been regulated for years, traditional practices must operate under the law.

Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, the Gborbu Wulomo (right) preforming some rites for‘Naa Okromo

“The Right to Education, Health and Protection of children is paramount and should guide traditional conduct,” he said.

According to Mr Appiah, tradi­tional practices must conform to existing law, irrespective of tribe and ethnic group beliefs.

“It is important to align tradi­tional practices with existing laws to prevent any infringement on children’s rights, regardless of tribal or ethnic beliefs,” he said.

He said authorities in the coun­try responsible for child protection must quickly move in and end any unfruitful unions that involved children.

“The apex of the law should prevail and the law must be ap­plied,” he added.

Additionally, Mr Appiah said the image of the child should not displayed in media in order to pre­serve the privacy of the child.

Meanwhile, the police have of­fered protection to the 12-year-old girl who was alleged to have been married to a 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo (Chief Priest) in Nungua in Accra.

Similarly, the mother of the vic­tims (name withheld) has also been placed under the protection of the police whiles investigations in the case was been investigated.

A police social media post was sighted by the Ghanaian Times on the police social media handle in Accra yesterday.

It said the Ghana Police Service had identified and located the 12-year-old girl (name withheld) who was alleged to have been mar­ried to the Wulomo.

The President of GaDangme Council, Ayikoi Otoo in a state­ment issued and sighted by the Ghanaian Times said it had engaged with Gborbu Wulomo and some of his elders.

The Deputy Attorney General and Deputy Minister for Justice, Diana Asonaba Dapaah, in a statement stated that the allegation if proven constitute a criminal offence for which all persons in­volved should be prosecuted.

The Chairman of the National Commission on Civic Education, Ms Kathleen Addy, in a statement urged the Nungua Traditional Council to review its traditional practices to bring them in line with laws and 1992 Constitution of Ghana and refrain from action that may have negative impact on the youth of Nungua.

She called for the intervention of the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Pro­tection as well as the Department of Social Welfare to ensure the best interest of the child were protected and child marriages were removed from customary practice.

The Ghanaian Times gathered that per the customs of the community, the victim now assumes the tradi­tional name Naa Ayemoede.

Following the alleged marriage, the Wulomo and the traditional chiefs in the area have been con­demned for their action.

 BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI & AGNES OPOKU SARPONG