By Francis-Xavier Sosu, Member of Parliament for Madina, has lodged a formal complaint with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) calling for the apprehension, thorough investigation, and subsequent prosecution of Gborbu Wulomo, a 63-year-old traditional leader, for his purported marriage to a 12-year-old girl.
Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, identified as the 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo, has come under intense scrutiny following the circulation of a video depicting his marriage to Naa Okromo, a 12-year-old girl.
The traditional marriage ceremony took place on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Nungua, triggering widespread condemnation and calls for legal action.
Gborbu Wulomo has defended himself by stating that the girl would not be expected to fulfil marital duties.
In a formal appeal addressed to the Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, Mr. Xavier-Sosu presented a compelling argument asserting that the marriage contravenes both local statutes and international protocols safeguarding the welfare of children.
He unequivocally stated that the union is “illegal, null and void,” underscoring that, in accordance with Ghanaian legislation, individuals under the age of 18 are legally incapable of entering into marriage.
Mr. Sosu underscored Ghana’s steadfast commitment to various international accords aimed at preventing child betrothals and marriages. He referenced key documents such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and Ghana’s 1992 Constitution to reinforce his argument.
Moreover, he highlighted the provisions delineated in Ghana’s Children’s Act of 1998, which expressly establishes 18 years as the minimum legal age for marriage, further emphasizing that the act of marrying a child constitutes a blatant violation of both domestic and international law.
Mr Sosu urged the Director General of the CID to take swift action to protect the rights and safety of children in Ghana.
“ARTICLE 16 OF THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN (CEDAW) states that women should have the same right as men to “freely choose a spouse and to enter into marriage only with their free and full consent”, and that the “betrothal and marriage of a child shall have no legal effect and all necessary action, including legislation, shall be taken to specify a minimum age for marriage.
“In addition to the above, I wish to respectfully state that, beyond the realm of International Law, Ghana has taken further steps to criminalise Child Marriages and Betrothals in all its ramifications. In Particular, ARTICLE 28 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution defines a child as a person below the age of eighteen years. In the spirit of Article 28 every child and young person must “receive special protection against exposure to physical and moral hazards”
