The Ghana Police Service has said they have 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 police say 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,” a statement issued by the Police said.
A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL ALLEGEDLY MARRIED TO GBORBU WULOMO AND HER MOTHER UNDER POLICE PROTECTION pic.twitter.com/GM0fP8XaDK
— Ghana Police Service (@GhPoliceService) April 2, 2024
Following the news of the marriage, a Former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo told the state to initiate legal processes against those who carried out the ceremony.
She said it is a crime for which the state ought to have intervened.
“I am expecting that the state, the Government of Ghana should have intervened, that is their legal responsibility.
“I am expecting that with immediate effect the state ought to have intervened to address the issue because what has happened is a crime and is unlawful under our Children Act, under our 1992 Constitution and we have ratified the international convention on the rights of children’s. So it is clearly unlawful, I expect the state to intervene and to also protect the girl,” the private legal practitioner told TV3 in an interview on News 360 on Monday, April 1.
“I expect the government, the police, the Ministry of Gender to intervene…and ensure that the legal processes are initiated” she stressed.
Whether the parents are contented or not it is immaterial, our law is very clear that the minimum age of marriage of whatever kind shall be 18 years. You can only get married in Ghana if you are 18 years and above
