Odaifio Welentsi III, the Nungua Mantse, has defended the marriage between Gborbu Wulomo, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, and a minor by citing the Bible and emphasizing the traditional requirement for the priest to marry a virgin.
He pointed out the difficulty of finding virgin girls over 9 years old in Nungua, highlighting the significance of Naa Ayemoede, a minor, in fulfilling this customary requirement. Odaifio Welentsi III asserted that the marriage conforms to biblical teachings and reflects the unchanging nature of Nungua and Ga culture.
“We have been transparent in our dealings throughout the process,” the Nungua Mantse said in an exclusive interview with Afii TV. “Everything has been open to the public. Anyone who claims they have not seen what we are doing is the one who doesn’t want to see it. And so far, everything we have done is biblical. Have we not read it from the Holy Book? Is it not what is written in the Holy Book that we replicated? Or did we do something different?”
“Some people witnessed it and they are not happy with us,” he continued. “They say the old man is married to a young child and plenty of other issues on the matter, and I tell them that the Nungua and Ga culture is absolute and it will never change.”
“In our current era, most girls above 15 years are no longer virgins,” the Nungua Mantse explained. “They have all engaged in sexual activity, so if we find a girl who is still a virgin, then she is the best candidate. Therefore, the current behavior of girls these days has justified this practice, which is also supported by biblical teachings.”
The marriage has sparked significant controversy, with many questioning the ethics of marrying a minor and expressing concerns about violations of child rights. Critics argue that cultural traditions should not be used to justify practices that harm or exploit vulnerable individuals, particularly children.
The Ghana Police Service has taken the bride and her parents into custody for investigation. While initial reports suggested that the girl was 12 years old, subsequent reports and clarification from traditional leaders indicate that she is actually 16 years old. Ghana’s constitution stipulates that the legal age of consent for marriage is 18 years.
