The Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mercy Larbi, has clarified that any form of child betrothal is considered a crime per the Children’s Act.
She emphasised that the marriage between the 12-year-old girl, Naa Okromo and Gborbu Wulomo Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, the 63-year-old priest, is against the law.
The ceremony has faced severe criticism, with many stakeholders describing the act as barbaric, retrogressive, and an abuse of the child’s rights.
But the office of the Gborbu Wulomo clarified that the 12-year-old was not married to the Wulomo but to the Gborbu deity.
Responding to the issue on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, April 6, Mrs Larbi explained that any form of child marriage, “whether it’s to a deity or a human being or whatever, it’s a crime.”
She clarified that because people have realised that performing the marriage rite would lead to exposure or reporting, they now instruct the child to go and live with the man.
“So you will see the child with the person and then when the child is 18, they will do whatever they are supposed to do. But from 12 years, you will see that the child will be living with the person for all this while because they know that when they perform the marriage ceremony openly, people will hear and report to CHRAJ or the police.”
Mrs Larbi added that her outfit has been educating people on child marriage, stating that a lot more must be done to clamp down on this act.
The Deputy CHRAJ Commissioner emphasised the need to also intensify education on child marriage in the northern Ghana.
Deputy Attorney-General, Diana Asonaba Dapaah also speaking on the programme condemned the alleged marriage of the 12-year-old girl to the Gborbu Wulomo.
According to her, irrespective of whether the girl, Naa Okromo, is currently 12 years old or is turning 16 years soon, the law strongly disapproves of her marriage to the 63-year-old priest.
Mrs Dapaah remarked, “Whether 12, 15 or 16, the law is clear if you look at section 14. And for me, I keep saying that this event is a good opportunity for us as Ghanaians to re-sensitise ourselves.
“It is neither here nor there whether 12, whether 15 or 16 – of course, I’m mindful of Section 122 of Act 560 on the determination of the age of a child. It is key only for purposes of ensuring that Section 14 has not been breached and clearly, the argument being thrown out there whether, 12, 15 or 16 still does not meet the age criteria.”
She also condemned betrothal marriage, citing Section 14 of Act 560, which clearly defines who a child is until he/she turns 18 years old.
“Even Section 1, defines a child within the context of Act 560 as 18 so whether 12, 15 or 16 and if we are evoking Section 14, why are we discussing even 12, 15 or 16? But of course, as part of the prosecutorial process on evidence, it is important to determine the age only for the purpose of ensuring that the child is 18 or not but 12, 15 or 16, I’m afraid still doesn’t cut it,” she stressed.
Source: myjoyonline.com
