Union Between Senior Priest and Underage Individual Sparks Outrage in Ghana

Ghanaian authorities have announced that they are providing protection to a young girl who was forced into marriage with a 63-year-old traditional priest, despite the legal age for marriage being 18.

The girl, Naa Okromo, was married to Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII in a traditional ceremony in Nungua, a neighborhood in the capital city of Accra. The footage of the ceremony, which was shared on social media, has sparked outrage among child rights organizations.

The Girls Not Brides Ghana Partnership, a coalition of over 100 organizations, has condemned the incident as a violation of human rights and called for action to stop the marriage.

The Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, has acknowledged that Naa Okromo is not 12 years old as previously reported, but will turn 16 in July. However, he emphasized that she is still a minor and her rights must be protected.

The minister has stated that the next steps will be determined after consulting with the Ministry of the Interior and the Attorney General.

The office of the priest has defended the ceremony, claiming it was a betrothal engagement and that the girl is not expected to fulfill marital duties yet. The Ghana Police Service has confirmed that the girl and her mother are under their protection while an investigation is ongoing.