The Women’s Wing of The Socialist Movement of Ghana has called on the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs ….

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The Women’s wing of the Socialist Movement of Ghana has called on the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs and the Commission on Human Rights And Administrative Justice to institute formal enquiries into the incidence of child abuse within religious and cultural institutions and recommend legislation to Parliament.
The call comes at the back of the alleged customary rites of a 16 year old girl to the Gborbu deity of Nungua.

Below is the full statement:

STATEMENT ON CUSTOMARY CHILD MARRIAGE IN NUNGUA
The women’s wing of the Socialist Movement has followed carefully and with growing alarm the situation arising from global reports of an alleged public marriage ceremony between the Gbobu Wulomo of Nungua, Numoo Borketeyn Laweh XXXIII and a 12-year-old girl named “Naa Okromo” on 29th March 2024.

Such a marriage would be a public instance of a crime, which is all too prevalent in our country and has damaged the life prospects of many girls. Such a marriage would also constitute a terrible example by a senior figure of a respected religious practice, inviting judicial regulation of its conduct.
We know that Wulomei and traditional leaders in Nungua and the wider Ga community have disputed the media account of the 29th March ceremony and sought to contextualise it. Several spokespersons have gone on record variously claiming:

a. Ga Wulomei are aware of the law and operate within it;
b. the victim is 16 and not 12 as alleged, and rather than a victim, she is the privileged reincarnation of a revered spiritual leader of Nungua (and the Ga community) and a willing participant in the ceremony;
c. the ceremony on 29 March was not a traditional wedding to the Gbobu Wulomo as a person but to the deity he serves. It was an elevation of the victim, who is already a “queen mother” to the position of senior “wife” of the principal deity of Nungua, and
d. the victim’s position post-elevation involves no conjugal duties (indeed is designed to protect her virginity) and does not disrupt her formal schooling. It will not prevent her from subsequently marrying or having a family if she so chooses later in life.
Traditional spokespersons have also described the reportage and public reaction to the incident as evidence of systemic disrespect for and even discrimination against Ga culture. Some have intimated an intention by “GaDangme” to retaliate in some unspecified manner.
At present, the victim is in police protective custody, and some members of her family are also apparently under investigation.
We will continue to follow this story. Our immediate comments are as follows:
● Ghana’s laws on the protection of children are progressive and must be upheld.
● Ghana’s legal regime correctly prioritises the victim’s health, well-being and life opportunities over all else. No exception is made for religious or traditional considerations.
● It is a crime to betroth, arrange dowries for, or marry a child (i.e., a citizen below the age of 18). Claims that the child in question is 16 do not ameliorate the criminality of the ceremony on 29th

March. Neither does the child’s apparent consent. A child cannot legally give consent in these matters.
● Video footage of the 29th March ceremony does not support the claim that what took place was anything other than a traditional Ga marriage right down to the “linguist” playfully dispensing sexual advice to the “bride” (seductive behaviour to ensure his fidelity and how to elicit sexual rewards from him). At some point, the linguist even refers to the groom by name. Further, at no point in these proceedings do any of the Wulomei, stool authorities, or guests protest that the linguist is conducting the wrong ceremony, much less that she is profaning a sacred ritual.

The seriousness of child abuse and the cluster of social and psychological problems it causes cannot be overstated. Child marriages, underage pregnancies, underage motherhood, and premature termination of girls’ education are a vicious cycle of blight, especially in poor inner cities where predatory behaviours towards children by older people are considered normal. Its endorsement, in any form, is not acceptable to us. We reject the notion that religious groups have any privilege in this matter. The law applies to everybody operating within Ghana.

We applaud the Ghana Police Service’s swift action in placing the Nungua victim in protective custody and investigating her guardians. We hope these investigations will conclude soon and that action will be taken against all the adults involved.

We call on the Nungua Wulomei to publicly make satisfactory arrangements to ensure that Naa Okromo will be fully supported in continuing her education until she reaches maturity and can decide for herself what role she will play in the religion.

Beyond this, we call on the Presidency, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, and the Commission On Human Rights And Administrative Justice to institute formal enquiries into the incidence of child abuse within religious and cultural institutions and recommend legislation to Parliament to address the problem.

We call on all Ghanaians to reflect on these matters and act to protect our future.

Signed.
Loretta Naa Dei Ashie

Women’s Leader SMG