In the African country Ghana, a 63-year-old religious leader has married a 12-year-old girl.
This incident has created controversy in the country. The elderly leader who gets married is an influential person in the area. Pictures and videos of his marriage with the girl have also surfaced.
After which there is tremendous anger among the people. Amidst the uproar, some leaders in support of the accused say that this is an old tradition of their country.
The girl reportedly started performing rituals to marry him at the age of 6. On the other hand, the police has rescued the girl and currently she is under the protection of her mother.
Nuumo Borkete Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, a spiritual leader from the Nungua area of Ghana’s capital Accra, married a 12-year-old girl on Saturday, BBC reports.
A large number of people attended this marriage. Tsuru is an influential religious leader of the area, also known as “Gborbu Wulomo” in the local language. The minimum age for marriage in Ghana is 18 years, yet controversy has arisen after a case of marriage with a 12 year old girl came to light.
Videos of their marriage also surfaced on social media. In which the girl is wearing a white dress and the matching dress of the elderly groom.
According to BBC, the girl’s acquaintances advised her to serve her husband. Also gifted many things including perfume to become attractive.
Despite the controversy the case has sparked, many community leaders have accused the people of not understanding their customs and traditions.
Local community leader Nii Borte Kofi Frankwa II said the girl was selected as the leader’s wife in accordance with “tradition and custom”.
Girl started rituals at the age of 6He further explained that the girl had begun the necessary rituals to become a priest’s wife at the age of six.
However, the police have identified and traced the girl and she is now under their custody with her mother. The Ghanaian government has not yet issued any reaction on the controversial marriage.
This is not the first case of marriage of girls in the African country Ghana. According to Girls Not Brides, an NGO, most girls in Ghana are married before they reach adulthood.