The Paediatric Society of Ghana has condemned the marriage between the 63-year-old Nungua Gborbu Wulomo and the 12-year-old Naa Okromo.
The marriage ceremony that went viral on social media on Saturday, March 30, has received many views from diverse groups and has attracted backlashes directed towards Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, the man at the center of the center of the issue.
The Paediatric Society of Ghana(PSG) on April 1 released a statement to condemn the marriage rite between the two.
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“The PSG strongly condemns any act or perception or facilitation of Child Marriage. On the right to refuse betrothal and marriage, The Children’s Act, 1998 states: No person shall force a child(age less than 18 years) to be betrothed, to be the subject of a dowry transaction or to be married,” it said
Despite the traditional leaders denying it to be just ceremonial, the Society, however, believes that Ghana as a country has “made good progress towards eliminating this unpopular practice of Child Marriage. However, accelerated actions are needed, and publications of open child marriages, verified or not, and regardless of the socio-cultural intentions, only slow us down from protecting our children from the deleterious harm of this abhorrent practice.”
The perceived acceptance of child marriages and the open brazen approval or defense of the practice by influential leaders of the community have the potential to embolden certain deviant behaviors like paedophilia.
They further explained the repercussions of giving children to marriages, citing a long-term dangerous impact on children’s cognitive and reproductive health.
“Child marriages are dangerous. Both real and so-called arranged informal unions where the child is supposedly a symbolic wife and not expected to perform any marital duties including conjugal duties are dangerous. The preventable damage to the child’s development, reproductive and mental health, and education can be irreversible and generational,” part of the statement added.
PSG has vehemently pledged its support to rally behind the government, individuals, and entities to help curb such a menace from society.
“We will support the efforts of the government and all partners to protect the best interest of every child everywhere in Ghana. This calls for strong national commitment at the highest level of the political, traditional, health, educational, judicial, and media landscape, with unwavering support from our international partners like UNICEF and WHO,” it said.
Read the Full Statement Below: