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

[DrLeftover]

An 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.
...

During the ceremony, women speaking in the local language Ga told the girl to dress teasingly for her husband.

They can also be heard advising her to be prepared for wifely duties and to use the perfumes they gifted her to boost her sexual appeal to her husband.

The statements fuelled the outrage, as they have been perceived to mean that the marriage was not merely ceremonial.

Critics have called for the authorities to dissolve the marriage and investigate Mr Tsuru.

Leaders of the Nungua indigenous community, to which both the girl and the priest belong, have condemned the public's opposition to the marriage, saying the criticism "comes from a point of ignorance".

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

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

www.bbc.com

 

[MrDawn]

...and let me guess, the priest used their religion as their primary defense?

Wouldn't be surprised.

 

[DrLeftover]

If this sort of behavior is their culture, wouldn't our objection be another form of Cultural Appropriation?

 

[Nebulous]

12 years old is way too young to get married or do anything adult-themed