Selectivity Cited In Nungua ‘Married Girl’ Saga
…As Police Ignore Calls To Arrest 63-Year-Old Man
Calls by some Ghanaians and groups for the Police to arrest the 63-year-old man at the centre of the controversial ‘marriage’ to a young girl at Nungua, a suburb of Accra, appear to have fallen on deaf ears, almost a week after the unfortunate incident.
The seeming reluctance by duty bearers and security agencies to effect any arrest since the ceremony went viral, has left many questioning, whether the law is respecter of persons when powerful elements are involved?
Many are of the view, the Police non adherence to the call stems from the fact that, the traditional leader, is powerful and carries weight in the eye of the people, hence the reluctance.
The call came after the Police invaded the Nungua Township to rescue the minor, ‘Naa Okromo’, now named Naa Ayemoede, who was allegedly ‘married’ to a Ga priest, Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, also known as Gborbu Wulomo, forcing the public to angrily call for his arrest and prosecution.
But almost a week after the incident, the Police, have gone silent except to say that they have rescued the underage girl, whose age was initially given as 12, together with her mother for safety.
Selectivity
Pointing out the discrimination in the matter, some members of the public, argued that if the act had been perpetuated by any ordinary individual, the security agencies, would have mustered courage and stormed his residence with all the state apparatus, including armored vehicles to arrest the person for questioning.
Instead, the Nungua Traditional Council, is rather holding press conferences and granting interviews, trying to justify issues, amidst issuing of threats to the Police and all those who are alleged to have misinformed the public.
Interestingly, not only have the Police, refused to arrest the chief, but sector ministers like the Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Gender, Children and Social Protection, Interior and Attorney General, have all refused to categorically call for the arrest of Gbornu Wulomo.
Even though, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice office, days ago issued a strongly worded statement calling on the Police to launch an investigation into the matter, expressing readiness to prosecute, shied away from ordering for the arrest of the 63-year-old or anyone connected to the ceremony.
In the same vein, the Chieftaincy Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, on various media platforms on Tuesday April 2, also said he has had meetings with his colleague ministers, but his uttermost priority is the safety of the girl.
He also tried to explain that, the girl whose age, has become subject of investigation was rather approaching 16 and not as was initially reported.
“For instance, the age of 12 which we were made to believe is incorrect. The child is almost 16 [but] still a minor,” myjoyonline.com quoted him to have said in an interview on Joy News on April 2, 2024.
I am concerned that there is a minor we are dealing with here. My number one job is to secure the welfare and protection of a minor. It is not a condemnation of something I do not understand. My job involves traditional authorities who are part of the development of this country and my job is also to oversee the traditional, customary and all that.
So, I cannot join the social media condemnation when I don’t understand facts. So, the first thing I did was to establish the facts and get my colleague ministers to ensure we have inter-ministerial coordination”, he is quoted as saying.
Defense
The Traditional Council, fought back, clarifying that the relationship between the two is a betrothal, not a marriage.
The Gborbu Wulomo shrine, has also defended itself against calls for the arrest of its 63-year-old priest, describing the call as bordering on “ignorance”.
They said the girl is considered a property of the Nungua deity and that at the right age, she will be able to marry any man of her choice.
According to the Gborbu Wulomo temple, Naa Yomo Ayemuade, has been designated to attend to one of the 99 deities of the Ga-Adangbe group, which necessitates her being a virgin.
This requirement led to the decision to publicly conduct the marriage ceremony to ensure her purity was maintained and to safeguard her from sexual violation by men.
A spokesperson for the temple, Nii Bortey Kofi Frankwa II, explained that the selection of 12-year-old Naa Yomo Ayemuade is a spiritual practice that began six years ago.
She is expected to fulfill a role within the shrine that is traditionally reserved only for virgins.
According to the spokesperson, the critics who have cried foul over the development do not appreciate the tenets of the Ga Dangbe tradition.
“When somebody makes such a call it comes from a point of ignorance. Because first, you need to come closer and ask so that you will appreciate what it is but not take hook line, and sinker what is being said,” he said at a press conference.
“Because it goes beyond what is being preached out there. It is deeper than what is being preached. It is deeper for our spirituality,” he told Accra-based GHOne television.
Background
The development surrounding the customary marriage, had sparked massive public outrage and discussions, leading to call for legal action against the Chief for alleged violations under the Children’s Act 1998 (Act 560).
The incident which caught the attention of the international media and various human rights lawyers, Civil Society Organizations (CEOs) and women groups is yet to witness any arrest.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, was one of the prominent individuals and human rights lawyer who petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for the arrest, investigation and possible prosecution of Gborbu Wulomo.
Others, including Girls Not Brides Ghana Partnership, a coalition of over 100 child rights organizations, Accra Human Rights Forum International, International Federation of Women Lawyers, (FIDA-Ghana), Amnesty International (AI) have all condemned the act and called for the arrest of the traditional leader.
Source: Anchorghana.com
