Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, a former Greater Accra Regional Minister, has said he was not much bothered about the brouhaha that characterized the supposed marriage between a 12-year-old girl and the Gborbu Wulomo of Nungua.
According to him, it is people’s understanding of things that make them react in a certain way, something he is aware of, having worked with people over the years.
As one of the elders of Nungua, the former Minister of State under the erstwhile Mills administration says it is because the communication did not go well with the people at the time that resulted in the media tantrums.
He said he was not much bothered knowing what the custom means, without having anything to do with what was being misconstrued on the media. Mr. Afotey-Agbo says he knew proper education on the culture was going to abate the misconceptions, the reason the development didn’t bother him that much.
Speaking with Captain Smart on Onua TV’s morning show, Maakye, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, Nii Laryea indicated that the initiative they took to explain matters to the public was the best.
“I wasn’t much bothered because I know how people think because I have worked with humans over the years. So, if the communication doesn’t go well, that is how it would go. Everyone and their own culture so people had to ask so that it would be explained to them but some wouldn’t even get the wisdom to inquire. We have to be bold and explain for people to understand,” he indicated.
He explained that in the Ga communities, although they could be under one paramountcy, each clan house has their own way of carrying out their customs, something the paramount chiefs cannot even interfere.
“Traditionally, all the communities have their way of doing their things. No one can speak to an issue within a catchment area apart from the indigenes of the area. Even within Nungua, there are 8 clan houses and each have how they do their things and not even the paramount chief can tell the clans how to do their things. It is a custom that is done when a Wulomo takes over,” he explained.
The alleged marriage of a 12-year-old girl to a 63-year-old Ga priest stirred public outrage after the matter became viral on social media.
Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, the Gborbu Wulomo, faced backlash when a video of him marrying the 12-year-old girl, Naa Okromo, appeared online.
The traditional marriage ceremony, occurred Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Nungua, a suburb of Accra.
The Gborbu Wulomo defended himself by stating that the girl would not be expected to fulfill marital duties.
Desist from commenting on Gborbu Wulomo marriage – Ashie Moore to NDC members
