By: Emmanuel Oti Acheampong
The alleged marriage between a 63-year-old Chief priest of the Teshie Nungua Traditional area and a 12-year-old school going girl has taken a different dimension as the Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency and a Human Rights Lawyer,Francis Xavier Sosu petitions the Criminal Investigative Department of the Ghana Police Service to cause the arrest of Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII.
His petition to the Police Service comes on the back of the various media reportage and video evidence of a marriage ceremony between a 63 year old Chief Priest known as Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXII and a 12 year old Naa Okromo. He argued in a three page petition that the alleged marriage is a breach of both local and International laws on Child Care and Protection and such conduct is ‘criminal’
“In my respectful view, the conduct of the Wulomo constitutes a breach of both local and international laws on Child Care and Protection and the said conduct is criminal”, the statement read.
The Legislator who is also championing a private member bill also added in his petition that, Ghana is evidentially a signatory to several international conventions that abhors Child betrothals and marriages. He stated based his petitions on Articles 16 and 28 of the 1992 constitution which strongly supports the Universal declaration of Human Rights and also a prevention of child marriage.
Even though communications from Palace of Chief Priest have vehemently denied sexual relations between the 68 year and 12 year old “couple’, the Member of Parliament for Madina insists that, the union or whatsoever the traditional council describes it to be is illegal due to the age of the girl in question.
” The said marriage is illegal, null and void because by law a child under 18 does not have capacity to enter marriage”, he added.
The Petition further called for the arrest of the 63-year-old Wulomo because all the acts involved in the alleged marriage are clear acts of illegality and careless abuse of the right of the innocent Ghanaian girl child which has been perpetuated in the full glare of the public.
“The Ghana Police Service is working with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection and the Department of Social Welfare to provide her with their necessary support while the matter is being investigated.”