The Member of Parliament for Madina Francis-Xavier Sosu, has petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to arrest, investigate, and prosecute Gborbu Wulomo, a 63-year-old traditional leader, for his alleged marriage to a 12-year-old girl.
Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, the 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo, has faced severe backlash since a video of him marrying a 12-year-old girl, Naa Okromo appeared online.
The traditional marriage ceremony occurred on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Nungua.
Gborbu Wulomo has defended himself by stating that the girl would not be expected to fulfil marital duties.
However, in a petition to the Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, Mr Xavier-Sosu argued that the marriage violates both local and international laws on child care and protection.
He described the action as “illegal, null and void” explaining that according to Ghanaian law, a child under 18 cannot enter any marriage.
Mr Sosu highlighted Ghana’s commitment to various international conventions prohibiting child betrothals and marriages, citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
He emphasized that marriage is not only a violation of international law but also of Ghana’s Children’s Act of 1998, which sets the legal age limit for marriages at 18 years old.
Mr Sosu urged the Director General of the CID to take swift action to protect the rights and safety of children in Ghana.
