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In a bid to seek justice for a 12-year-old girl allegedly forced into marriage, Madina Member of Parliament, Francis Xavier-Sosu, has petitioned the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for the arrest and prosecution of 63-year-old Nungua Gborgbu Wulormor, also known as Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII.
The petition, submitted by Xavier-Sosu, a human rights lawyer and activist, highlights the reported marriage ceremony between Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII and Miss Naa Okromo, the child, on March 30, 2024, in Nungua. Xavier-Sosu asserts that this act violates both local and international laws on child care and protection, and should be considered criminal.
Citing international conventions and Ghana’s own legal framework, the petition emphasizes that the marriage of a child below the age of 18 is illegal, null, and void. Ghana’s Constitution, as well as the Children’s Act of 1998, sets the legal age for marriage at 18 years and expressly prohibits child marriages, imposing penalties for violations.
Despite arguments in support of the marriage based on tradition and religion, Xavier-Sosu contends that Ghana’s Constitution is clear in prohibiting customary practices that dehumanize or are injurious to the well-being of a person.
The petition calls for a thorough investigation into the matter and urges the CID to take necessary legal action against Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII to ensure justice for the child involved.
