Alleged Child marriage: Persons involved would be prosecuted if proven – Office of AG directs Police to probe matter

The Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice has directed the Inspector General of Police and the Ghana Police Service to investigate the alleged marriage of a 12-year-old girl to Gborbu Wulomo.

In a letter dated April 2, 2024, and signed by Deputy Attorney General, Diana Asonaba Dapaah said, persons involved would be prosecuted if the allegation is established.

“The allegations, if proven, constitute a criminal offence for which all persons involved must face prosecution. We would appreciate it if you could cause your outfit to conduct the necessary investigation of the alleged child marriage to enable our Office to do the needful,” Ms Asonaba Dapaah stated.

News of the alleged marriage ceremony of Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII and Naa Okromo, said to be 12 years old, has attracted worrying reactions.

The Ghana police had earlier announced in a Facebook post that has been taken into protection together with her mother. News of the traditional marriage between the girl and the priest Gborbu Wulomo sparked outrage on social media where it was first published on the page of a local TV station Ablade TV.

Following the public expression of anger and criticism of the, local chiefs and traditional leaders within the Nungua community started giving explanations to the incident, with some using the Bible as justification saying they were following biblical examples of priests marrying virgins. Some also argued that it is their culture and the marriage does not involve sexual relations until the girl is 18 years old.