By FIDA-Ghana, the International Federation of Women Lawyers, has strongly condemned the marriage between Gborbu Wulomo, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, and a 12-year-old girl named Naa Okromo in Nungua.
According to FIDA-Ghana, this union between the 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo and the minor raises serious legal concerns regarding cultural rights and practices within the confines of the 1992 constitution of Ghana.
In a press statement signed by FIDA-Ghana’s Vice President, Francisca Tete-Mensah, on Tuesday, April 2, the group called for a thorough examination of the endorsement of child marriage within the Nungua Wulomo customary practices.
FIDA-Ghana emphasized that child marriage is contrary to the provisions of both the 1992 constitution and the Children’s Act of Ghana.
“Whatever justification for the customary practice for child marriage traditions or custom of the Nungua community, it is offensive to the provisions of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana and the Children’s Act of Ghana.”
“It must, therefore, be frowned upon and declared injurious to the society to ensure the well-being and rights of individuals, particularly the protection of minors,” parts of the statement read.
FIDA-Ghana has called upon the Ghana Police Service to collaborate with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Department of Social Welfare to ensure that all individuals implicated in child marriage are brought to justice.
“We further call for safeguarding measures to be put in place by the authorities, as a deterrent to deviant behaviours of those who act, contrary to the law and against acceptable norms of our society, under the guise of upholding tradition or customary practices.”
“The government should also strengthen the various governmental institutions involved in the protection of minors’ rights, to prevent any recurrence of situations of child marriage, with such impunity,” part of the statement read.
