Chieftaincy Minister Clarifies that the Girl Married to the Priest is not 12; She will be 16 in July
Chieftaincy Minister clarifies: Girl married to priest not 12, will turn 16 in July. Get the latest details on this controversial issue.
Stephen Asamoah Boateng, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has clarified that the reported age of the new wife of the Ga priest, Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, is inaccurate. Contrary to earlier reports, she is not 12 years old but will turn 16 in July 2024.
He emphasized that even if the girl is nearly 16 years old as asserted, the significant age gap remains a concern.
“We seem to be unraveling some few things. For instance, the age of 12 which we were made to believe is incorrect. The child is almost 16 [but] still a minor,” he said.
During an appearance on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, April 2, Mr. Boateng provided further clarification, stating that while the girl may be slightly older, it does not negate the fact that she is still a minor deserving of protection from the state.
He highlighted that his department, in cooperation with other ministries, is committed to safeguarding the rights of the young girl. Additionally, they will endeavor to verify her true age through her birth certificate or school records to ensure accurate information is obtained and any falsehoods are exposed.
His comment follows the purported marriage of Naa Okromo, 12, now addressed as Naa Yomo Ayemuede to the Gborbu Wulomo, a 63-year-old priest over the weekend in Nungua.
Earlier reports identified Naa Okromo as a 12-year-old girl but following this speculations, many civil society groups have condemned the act. Others have also called for the arrest of the priest.
Meanwhile, he said to fully grasp the matter, the culture and traditions of the Nungua people must be taken into consideration regarding the ceremony.
Mr Boateng explained that the traditional rite was performed about a week ago, and the outdooring occurred only on Saturday, March 30 but the marriage has not been consummated.
He urged the public to hold on with the call for the priest’s arrest until they understood the entire issue.
“Those who are calling for the arrest and all that, I will say hang on for a while. It’s an option that is available, I would not close it because that is not my job. The Ministry of the Interior will advise and the Attorney General will advise and I will give them the version I have heard, then we arrive at the conclusion on what is the next step,” he added.
The Chieftaincy Minister added he would meet the Gborbu Wulomo tomorrow April 3 and by Thursday, April 4, he would be able to speak conclusively on the matter.
Source: Joy News
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