HRRG CEO inconsolable over alleged child marriage ceremony involving 63-Year-Old Priest and 12-Year-Old Girl

Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), Joseph Kobla Wemakor, has expressed shock and anger over a viral video showing a 63-year-old priest marrying a 12-year-old girl in what appeared to be a ceremonial occasion in a recent interview on Good Afternoon Ghana Show on Metro TV.

Wemakor and his group swiftly denounced the purported marriage scandal after seeing the video, which went viral on social media.

Wemakor emphasized in the interview the unsettling aspects of the video, in which the MC could be heard pushing the young lady to carry out her wifely responsibilities to her husband.

Concerns about the age gap and the video’s content prompted activists like Wemakor to demand that authorities step in right away.

Wemakor called for the annulment of the marriage and accountability for all parties involved, emphasizing the necessity for in-depth inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the relationship.

These opinions were reflected in the press statement that HRRG released on April 2, 2024, which denounced the little girl’s exploitation under the pretense of tradition.

In response to the public outcry, the Office of Gborbu Wulomo held a press conference to shed light on the ceremonial event. Rev. Dr. Daniel Nii Gyasi Ankrah revealed that the young girl, Naa Okromo, was destined to serve a sacred purpose as the future occupant of the esteemed stool of Naa Yoomo Ayemuede, a role deeply rooted in tradition and lineage.

Wemakor also advocated for justice and accountability; the need for a comprehensive understanding of the rituals and ceremonies involved in such practices has become paramount to preventing misinformation and ensuring the protection of vulnerable individuals.

However, Hon. Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, an indigene of the Ga-Dangme land and a panelist on the show, clarified that the girl was not being married to Gborbu Wulomo but rather to the Gborbu deity, emphasizing the importance of understanding the cultural context and practices of the Ga-Dangbe community.

The unfolding events have sparked a debate on the interpretation of cultural traditions and the protection of children’s rights in Ghana.

Watch the full interview below: