The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Ghana) has joined calls from human rights bodies in condemning the customary marriage between 63-year-old Gbornu Wulomo and 12-year-old Naa Okromo.
The customary ceremony on Saturday, March 30, has sparked public outcry as calls have intensified for state institutions to intervene.
FIDA-Ghana has described the marriage ceremony as “unlawful,” indicating that the girl is “below the marriageable age of 18 years and she cannot give her legal consent to the marriage.”
The Federation in a statement dated Tuesday, April 2, noted, amongst other things, that such custom is “offensive to the provisions of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana and the Children’s
Act of Ghana.”
“It must therefore, be frowned upon and declared injurious to the society to ensure the well-being and rights of individuals, particularly the protection of minors.”
The statement continued, “The union between the 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo and the minor, Naa Ayemoede, raises legal issues of concern, regarding cultural rights and practices with their limitations under the provisions of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.”
“The second leg of the discussion surrounds the intersection of traditional practices, cultural norms, and child protection rights.”
FIDA-Ghana called on the Ghana Police Service to work with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Department of Social Welfare, to “bring the perpetrators of the child marriage in this case to book.”
FIDA-Ghana said they are also standing by to offer any legal support that falls within their mandate.
The Federation further called for “safeguarding measures to be put in place by the authorities” to serve as a “deterrent to deviant behaviours of those who act contrary to the law.”
It also entreated the government to clamp down on acceptable norms in the society under the guise of upholding tradition or customary practices.
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“The government should also strengthen the various governmental institutions involved
in the protection of minors’ rights, to prevent any recurrence of situations of child marriage, with such impunity,” it concluded.
Read the full statement below:
