Nungua Traditional Council has come under fire from the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) over the recent marriage of Gborbu Wulomo of Nungua, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, to a twelve-year-old girl.

The customary event happened on March 30, 2024, and it has angered Ghanaians to the point where requests have been made for the 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo to be arrested. He says the girl won’t be expected to perform marital obligations until she is eighteen.

The NCCE voiced worry about the state of affairs and stressed that cultural traditions that violate the law and the constitution have no place in Ghana’s democracy in a statement released on April 2, 2024.

The Children’s Act, Act 560 of 1998, which stipulates that the minimum age of marriage shall be 18 years and forbids pressuring a minor into betrothal, dowry transactions, or marriage, was brought up by the Commission to the Ga Traditional Council’s attention.

The 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which acknowledges the presence of ethnic groups in the nation but outlaws customs that are harmful to people’s health and well-being, was another document mentioned by the NCCE.

“The NCCE wishes to remind the Ga Traditional Council that the Children’s Act, Act 560 of 1998, Section 13, (1&2) provides that “The minimum age of marriage of whatever kind shall be eighteen years”. It is also worth pointing out that the same section of the Children’s Act says that “No person shall force a child (a) to be betrothed; (b) to be the subject of a dowry transaction; or (c) to be married”. While the Nungua Traditional Council contends that this union is voluntary, it is unclear to the NCCE how a pre-pubescent, pre-teen minor can consent to such an arrangement.”

The Commission tasked that the Nungua Traditional Council examine its procedures in light of Ghanaian law and the Constitution and desist from taking any acts that will have a detrimental effect on the Nungua youth.

NCCE further demanded that the Department of Social Welfare, the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, and the National and Regional Houses of Chiefs step in to safeguard children’s best interests and stop child marriage as a custom.