Authorities from the Ghana Police Service have located and identified the 12-year-old girl reportedly married to the 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo in Nungua, Accra. Both the girl and her mother are now under police protection, according to a statement released by the police. Collaborating with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection and the Department of Social Welfare, they are ensuring the girl receives necessary support during the ongoing investigation.
In response to the marriage revelation, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, a former Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, urged legal action against those involved in the ceremony, emphasizing the criminality of the act. She stressed the legal obligation of the Ghanaian government to intervene and protect the rights of the girl under both national and international laws and conventions.
“Whether the parents consent or not is irrelevant; our law mandates a minimum marriage age of 18 in Ghana,” emphasized Nana Oye Bampoe Addo.
The Nungua Traditional Authority provided an explanation for the marriage, which had stirred public concern. Clarifying that the union was purely ceremonial, the Office of the Overlord of Ga Dangme emphasized that there would be no conjugal rites involved. Nungua Mankralo Tetteh Nii Gbotery Kofi Frankwa explained that the girl’s role was to assist the Overlord with temple duties as a virgin, fulfilling a customary duty within their tradition.
Speaking in an interview with TV3, Nungua Mankralo Tetteh Nii Gbotery Kofi Frankwa highlighted the customary nature of the union, emphasizing the importance of maintaining traditions within their community.
“Her childhood has never been denied; many chiefs and queens were installed even before birth, granting them privileges not afforded to ordinary children,” he noted.
As per their community’s customs, Naa Okromo now assumes the traditional name Naa Ayemoede.
However, the union requires further rites for completion. Naa Ayemoede is set to undergo a second customary ceremony focused on purification, empowering her to fulfill her duties as the Gborbu Wulomo’s wife, including the vital role of procreation.
The Gborbu Wulomo temple asserted that the girl’s role was designated for virgins, aiming to preserve her purity and protect her from sexual violation. According to the temple’s spokesperson, Nii Bortey Kofi Frankwa II, the public disclosure of the ceremony six years ago aimed to safeguard the girl’s purity and uphold traditional practices.
Nii Bortey Kofi Frankwa II criticized those calling for prosecution, asserting their lack of understanding of Ga-Dangme traditions. He emphasized the deeper spiritual significance of the ceremony, urging critics to seek understanding before passing judgment.