Preventing Child Marriage in Ghana: Police Step In to Protect 12-Year-Old Bride

The recent news of a 12-year-old girl being married to a 63-year-old traditional high priest in Ghana has sparked public outrage and raised concerns about child marriage in the country. Despite the legal minimum age for marriage being 18, the prevalence of child marriage continues to be an issue in Ghana, with over two million unions involving a child bride at the time of marriage, according to UNICEF. The girl, now under police protection, is receiving support from the government’s children’s minister and the social welfare department. While the move by the police to protect the girl has been praised, questions remain about why there have been no arrests in this case. Civil society groups have condemned the marriage, highlighting the potential for influential leaders’ approval of child marriages to normalize harmful behaviors like pedophilia. The case sheds light on cultural practices within the Ga community, where specific families are responsible for nominating brides for high priests – a tradition believed to be a spiritual process. It is crucial to continue the conversation on preventing child marriage, ensuring the protection and well-being of young girls in Ghana.