The family of a 12-year-old girl who is allegedly married to a 63-year-old priest in Ghana has issued a strong warning to the Ghana Police Service.
The girl, Naa Okromo, was taken into protective custody by the police on April 2nd after public outcry over the marriage. However, her family is apparently unhappy with this development.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, April 2, a family member said, “This is to the Police that the young lady who is our Queen is under Police Custody and if they’ve remarked that she is with them, where again do you want to find her. We are telling the world that she is our Royal and if the Police are saying they are taking care of her then they must be reminded that whatever happens to her, traditionally we will deal with the police.”
This comes after widespread condemnation of the marriage ceremony, which many see as a violation of Ghana’s law and a form of child abuse.
The priest, Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, claims the ceremony was a betrothal and not a full marriage, but this defence has not quelled public anger.
The Ghana Police Service has not yet responded to the family’s statement. It remains unclear how the situation will be resolved, but tensions appear high.
