One prominent traditional priest, aged 63, has married a 12-year-old girl in Ghanal. This matter has sparked significant controversy in Ghana, with many people discussing it. The priest, named Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru, married the girl in a customary ceremony that took place on Saturday. Amidst the ongoing controversy and criticism directed at the priest’s actions, community leaders argue that people do not understand their customs and traditions.
While the legal minimum age for marriage in Ghana is 18, child marriages persist. Videos and photos of the event began circulating on social media, depicting large numbers of community members attending.These videos have incited anger, with many Ghanaians expressing their disagreement with the marriage that took place on Saturday.
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During the ceremony, some women spoke in the local Ga language, advising the girl to dress to attract her new husband and prepare for her duties as a wife. They also encouraged her to use the perfumes given to her to be sexually attractive to her husband.
These statements angered observers who saw the marriage as more than ceremonial. Some are calling on authorities to annul the marriage and investigate Mr. Tsuru.Leaders of the Nungua indigenous community, to which the girl and the priest belong, argue that those condemning the marriage are speaking from ignorance.
Nii Bortey Kofi Frankwa II, a local community leader, stated that the girl’s role as the priest’s wife is purely traditional.He added that the girl began the rites to become the priest’s wife six years ago, and it did not affect her education. The girl is expected to undergo a second ceremony to purify her for her new role as the priest’s wife.
This ceremony will also prepare her for marital responsibilities, including childbearing, according to local reports.Mr. Tsuru is a “Gborbu Wulomo,” a traditional high priest in the Nungua indigenous community in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
As a spiritual leader, the priest ranks among the highest in the community. He performs sacrifices on behalf of the community, prays for its protection, and enforces cultural practices. He also leads traditional rites during events, including the installation of traditional chiefs.
Government authorities have not responded to the marriage of the 63-year-old priest and the 12-year-old girl, which has angered many people in Ghana.While Ghanaian law recognizes customary marriages, it does not permit child marriages under the guise of culture or tradition.According to the global NGO Girls Not Brides, 19% of girls in Ghana are married before they turn 18, and 5% are married before their 15th birthday.
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