Private legal practitioner, Francis-Xavier Sosu, has petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to effect the arrest of Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, a 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo, who, over the weekend, got married to a 12-year-old girl, Naa Okromo.
The petition filed by the human rights lawyer and Member of Parliament for Madina is also demanding the investigation and prosecution of the Gborbu Wulomo after his arrest.
The Saturday March 30, 2024 event at Nungua which has since gone viral on social media has sparked public uproar regarding the position of the law and tradition.
According to the lawyer, “the conduct of the Wulomo constitute a breach of both local and international laws on Child care and protection and the said conduct is criminal.”
Citing portions of Article 16(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Mr. Sosu noted that “Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.”
The lawmaker also quoted portions of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), describing the marriage as “illegal, null and void”.
Read his full petition to the CID here.
Marriage between 63-year-old man and 12-year-old girl under investigation – Police
