Child Marriage: A Disturbing Practice
A traditional priest in Ghana, aged 63, has ignited a firestorm of controversy by marrying a 12-year-old girl in a ceremony that has gone viral on social media. The incident has sparked a national debate over child marriage and cultural practices in the country.
The marriage, which took place in a traditional ceremony, has been met with widespread outrage, particularly after videos and photos of the event circulated online. In the footage, women can be heard advising the young girl to dress provocatively for her husband and to use perfumes to enhance her sexual appeal. These statements have led many to believe that the marriage is not merely symbolic but has deeper implications.
Critics have called for the immediate dissolution of the marriage and for an investigation into the priest, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, who is a respected figure in the Nungua indigenous community. They argue that the marriage goes against the legal minimum age for marriage in Ghana, which is 18.
Despite the backlash, some community leaders have defended the marriage, stating that outsiders do not understand their customs and traditions. They claim that the girl’s role as the priest’s wife is rooted in tradition and that the rites associated with the marriage have not interfered with her education.
The girl is expected to undergo a second customary ceremony to prepare her for her new role as the wife of the high priest, including responsibilities such as childbearing. However, the legality of the marriage remains in question, as Ghanaian law prohibits child marriages under the guise of culture or tradition.
The incident has highlighted the ongoing issue of child marriage in Ghana. According to the NGO Girls Not Brides, 19% of girls in the country are married before the age of 18, with 5% married before their 15th birthday. The government has yet to respond to this specific case, but it raises important questions about the balance between cultural practices and legal standards.