63-Year-Old Priest Weds 12-Year-Old Girl In Ghana, Defends saying "Nothing Sexual"
Defending his marriage with a 12-year-old girl, a 63-year-old priest from Ghana, who was faced with social media backlash, said that the ‘marriage was not for a sexual relationship’. The priest, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII is a spiritual leader who last week married the child in a grand ceremony. The priest, also known as Gborbu Wulomo has a considerable spiritual command in the Nungua indigenous people.
As the photos of the wedding ceremony were spread on social media stirring debates over the incident, a report from the BBC noted that a woman from the ceremony was heard advising the girl to prepare for the duties of wife and to be more attractive using perfumes to appeal to her husband. The woman also asked the girl to dress teasingly for the husband, according to the report.
However, the Priest’s Spokesperson defended the marriage saying that it was not a marriage ceremony and that “nothing sexual” was involved in it. “The priest has three customary wives already. It”s a customary role to help the priest with his spiritual duties,” the spokesperson explained.
As per the spokesperson, the marriage was to make the girl help the priest with his spiritual duties. Though the law in Ghana does not allow the marriage of a child as the legal age limit constitutes 18 years for a wedding, the priest”s spokesperson defended the incident saying that the girl was not expected to fulfil her marital duties until she reached the legal age of consent.
Some local community leaders have also defended the action. Nii Bortey Kofi Frankwa II, one of the leaders in the region claimed that the marriage was based on tradition and custom, news outlet Daily Mail reported.
However, following the social media criticism after the image of the event attended by several local community leaders surfaced online, the girl and her mother have been placed under police protection. Ghana”s attorney general has said that an investigation has been ordered into the event, as per a report in South China Morning Post (SCMP).
The office of the attorney general said that the act would constitute a criminal offence if the allegations were proven and the persons involved will face prosecution.
Notably, the Ghana”s Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister has clarified that the girl is 15-years old and not 12 as reported earlier, African outlet Mwanzo TV reported.
A child bride in #Ghana who was married to a 63-year-old traditional priest is 15 and not 12 as earlier reported, the country”s Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Minister has said.
Mr Boateng added that although the girl was older than initially reported, she was still a minor. pic.twitter.com/QU2scBEoaA— MwanzoTV (@MwanzoTv) April 4, 2024
