Outrage as traditional Ghanaian priest, 63, marries 12-year-old girl - BBC News

Community leaders say critics do not understand their customs but there are calls for an investigation.

2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Eighteen is the minimum age to get married in Ghana and customary marriages involving children are not legally recognisedBy Gloria Aradi & Favour NunooBBC News, Nairobi & AccraAn influential traditional priest aged 63 has sparked an outrage in Ghana by marrying a 12-year-old girl.

The priest, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, married her in a customary ceremony held on Saturday.

In the face of criticism, community leaders have said people do not understand their customs and tradition.

The legal minimum age to get married in Ghana is 18 and the prevalence of child marriage has declined, but it continues to happen.

According to the global campaigning NGO Girls Not Brides,19% of girls in the country are married before they reach 18 and 5% get married before their 15th birthday.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-68692997

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