The GaDangme Council has clarified that the relationship between the 12-year-old girl and the Gborbu Wulomo of Nungua is a betrothal and not marriage.
Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, the 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo of Nungua, faced backlashes when a video surfaced online showing him in a marriage ceremony with a 12-year-old girl, Naa Okromo.
The traditional ceremony, which attracted attention, took place on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Nungua.
Responding to the matter, the GaDangme Council in a statement noted that after its meeting with the Gborbu Wulomo and some of his elders, the narrative making rounds is different.
It is “important to clarify that the traditional ruler has stated that the relationship with the underage girl is a betrothal and not a marriage. This distinction to us has altered the legal implications.”
“We are inclined to side with the Gborbu Wulomo since the original reportage made the point that there was another ceremony that awaited the girl to purify and prepare her for procreation.”
While the Council agreed that a betrothal could involve an underage person, it said it does not allow the individual to have a sexual relationship with that child, which could put her education at risk or even put her in danger of having a difficult delivery due to underdeveloped organs.
The Council urged Gborbu Wulomo to address the issue, alleviate the concerns surrounding the betrothal, and ensure that the girl’s well-being and rights are safeguarded, and that her best interests, such as her education, are prioritized throughout the engagement process.
“She should continue her education until she reaches the legal age of marriage, and even marriage should not disrupt her education if she is still willing to continue.”
“The GaDangme Council also urges the parents of the child to keep an eye on her and let her understand that notwithstanding the betrothal demanded by custom, she is still a child and entitled to enjoy life and engage in youthful activities like all others of her age,” it stated.
Meanwhile, the police have said they are investigating the alleged marriage between the 12-year-old girl and 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo.
The Police in a statement noted that they had identified the location of the girl and her mother in Nungua, Accra and are currently under Police protection.
The post Gborbu Wulomo’s is betrothed to 12-year-old girl not married to her– GaDangme Council first appeared on 3News.
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