Bernard Allotey Jacobs has warned the Ghana Police and Attorney General against the way they are treating the marriage between the 16-year old girl and 63-year old priest, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII.
The priest, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, married the girl in a customary ceremony held at Nungua in Accra and following the marriage rite, which was captured in a video that has gone viral, the priest and the Nungua Traditional Council have come under intense criticism.
However, the traditional leaders claim the girl has not been married to the priest but the deity.
Following the incident, there have been concerns over the legal implications for such an event.
The issue has turned into a tussle of laws and customs as there is a school of thought that condemns this traditional practice and another that upholds the Nungua traditions, supporting the Gborbu Wulomo (priest) for preparing the girl for marriage.
Allotey Jacobs, commenting on the development during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, cautioned the parties speaking against the Nungua Traditional Council to desist from it.
He kicked against the Attorney General who has instructed for investigations into the incident and the Police for taking the child and her mother into their custody.
"Attorney General, he may be offending a whole tribe if he doesn't know", he cautioned.
He advised people to respect the traditions and customs of the Ga society, stressing "just don’t defy the traditions and customs of the Gas. Don’t do it!"
He threw his weight behind the marriage rite saying "it is a tradition. It is a norm...It is not being above the law. They should respect customs and traditions".
"Wulomo, they inherit Aaron's order. They are from the Aaron's order. They are Levites till today and when they decide, it is final. Don't provoke the Ga people!", he exclaimed.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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matter be this, what is the age of the girl 12, nearly 12 and 16 how come. the picture we see that girl is 12. now they say it is not marriage but betrothal eh when the ceremony was for marriage or now ceremonies for marriage and betrothal are the same. hmmmmm big people lying and now we should keep off so that we will not offend Ga people not Teshie people. so what we did and said about trokosi was also offending the ewes or what. eh Ghana
Allotey Jacobs, hear this. Nobody is against the customs and traditions of any ethnic group in Ghana. The challenge has to do with whether the culture and traditions are inimical to the growth of a particular ethnic group/persons. The future of this little girl is at stake, her education, health, upbringing and what the future holds for her in such a situation are matters of concern to all well meaning people. If it is about respecting other peoples customs and traditions we are told that with certain ethnic groups in southern Ghana, in the past, when a chief dies they have to behead someone as part of the burial rights. Can government allow that to happen today under the guise of respect for the customs and traditions of a particular ethnic group? In any case why this particular girl. Is she the only 12 or 16 year old Ga-Dangbe girl around?
Fuuuulishh comments from this old guy. Constitution of Ghana reigns Supreme. To hell with any customs. If the the girl is not of age as the report suggest, then it becomes affront to the laws of ghana... Allotey, when are you going learn at all???? You are a big disappointment.
Amuzu, Keta! Woye gyimifour panin paa. Who said girl is 12. Kwasiapanin do you think you are wise than the whole ga people. Because of today cheap politic and you talking the way you are talking.
Allotey talks as if customs were set in stone. Traditions and customs are dynamic and they change with time and our associations with other cultures. Clearly, our Constitution is above all cultures. If the framers of our constitution did not include the cultural aspect in the constitution, they did so without any legal backing. Then the people of Ga must abide by the legal advice of the Attorney General, otherwise we may as well promote barbarism in the digital age.
Gyimifour, Simpa Panyin, would you give your 12 year old daughter for marriage?