Saturday, 09 November

A 12-year-old girl allegedly married to Gborbu Wulomo and her mother under police protection

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The Ghana Police Service has identified and located the 12-year old girl who is alleged to have been married to the 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo in Nungua, Accra. The girl and her mother are currently under police protection. 

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 the necessary support while the matter is being investigated.

Meanwhile, Human Rights lawyer and MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu has petitioned the Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to arrest, investigate and prosecute Gborbu Wulomo for marrying the 12-year-old child Naa Okromo.

The traditional ceremony held on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Nungua between Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, known as the Gborbu Wulomo and the young girl, Naa Okromo, has since gone viral. 

In defense of his actions, the Gborbu Wulomo claimed that the girl would not be required to fulfill any marital duties including sex but to perform traditional rites according to their customs.

However, lawyer Sosu is not enthused.

According to the lawmaker, “the conduct of the Wulomo constitute a breach of both local and international laws on child care and protection and the said conduct is criminal.”

He explained that Ghana is a signatory to several international conventions that abhors child bethrotals and marriages. In particular, he requested that the CID boss averts his mind to Article 16(2) of the universal declaration of human rights which states that “marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses”.

It is in light of the foregoing that Mr Sosu has prayed the CID boss to exercise his powers of arrest, investigations including potential defilement and prosecution in the defence and protection of this innocent child.

Find details of the petition below:

Source: Classfmonline.com