It is illegal to wed under the age of 18.
A 12-year-old Ghanaian girl who was married off to a 63-year-old traditional priest is now under police protection along with her mother, the force said on Tuesday.
Videos and pictures of Saturday’s customary wedding ceremony between the girl and the priest, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, had gone viral on social media, angering many Ghanaians.
Some called on the police and government to take action, but community leaders said critics did not understand their customs.
“The Ghana Police Service is working with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection and the Department of Social Welfare to provide her with the necessary support while the matter is being investigated,” the police added in their post, which was shared on social media.
Child marriage is illegal in Ghana but still common, according to the global campaigning NGO Girls Not Brides. It says 19% of girls are married before the age of 18 years, and 5% are married before their 15th birthday.
