The Attorney-General’s Office has urged the police to investigate the alleged child marriage between 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo of Nungua, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, and a 12-year-old girl called Naa Okromo, to enable its office to prosecute all persons found guilty.
In a letter to the police, the A-G stressed that the allegations, if proven, constitute a criminal offence for which all persons involved must face prosecution.
Per Sections 14 and 15 of the Children’s Act 1998 (Act 560), a person shall not force a child to be betrothed, be the subject of a dowry transaction or be married.
A person who contravenes a provision of section 2 to 14 commits an offence and “is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or both the fine and the imprisonment”.
Over the weekend, news of an alleged marriage between a 63-year-old spiritual leader of the Nungua Traditional Area, Gborbu Wulomo, and a 12-year-old minor surfaced on the internet.
Reports suggest that the girl was selected for the traditional priest, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, when she was six years old.
A marriage ceremony was held on March 30 at Nungua to seal the union.
Although the GaDangme Council has maintained that the ceremony does not mandate the girl to perform conjugal duties, child rights activists and the public are peeved about the issue.
Already, the Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, has petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the 63-year-old traditional leader.
Also, the police said they were working with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection and the Department of Social Welfare to provide her with the necessary support while the matter is being investigated.
Below is the statement.