Pegging Marriage Age At 23…We May Live To Fight Battles Of Sexual Misconduct

Government Statistician, Dr. Philomena Nyarko, this week proffered that the legal marriage age should be fixed at 23 years to ensure that young women become physically, socially and psychologically prepared before procreation.

Dr. Philomena Nyarko made the remarks at the launch of the 5th African Youth and Governance Conference in Accra under the theme “Youth inclusive governance: Harnessing Africa’s Demographic Potential”.

During the launch, she stressed the need for the nation to put in place measures against child bearing in order to improve the living conditions of families.

"It is well known that health outcome for both mother and child improve, if pregnancy is delayed until when the young woman has matured for marriage an childbearing, to help save the lives of both mother and child," she said

The new age, she stated, will also help to check the population growth of the country.

But Ursula Owusu, who also doubles as the NPP Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, sharply disagrees and finds the proposition absurd.

According to her, scientifically, the libido in adolescents tends to rise in their youthful years and therefore should there be any upward adjustments in the marriage age, the country may live to fight the battles of sexual misconduct.

She pontificated on Oman FM that the youth may become promiscuous if the current marriage age entrenched in the constitution is reviewed and fixed at 23 years.

In her view, the ripe age should remain at 18 years but left to the discretion of the spouses to determine the period to seal their relationship in marriage.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com

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Photo: Man Defiles Girl At Mosque

14 June 2012

KUMASI Circuit Court presided over by Emmanuel Amo Yartey has sentenced a 42-year-old ex-convict to 15 years’ imprisonment for defiling a 12-year-old girl in a mosque.

 Awudu Gariba, who pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement, contrary to section 101 of Act 39/60, claimed the little girl rather unzipped him and had sexual intercourse with him.

{sidebar id=10 align=right}Presenting the facts of the case to the court, Police Chief Inspector P.Y Bebli said the convict used to stay with the victim’s mother in the same house at Anloga, a suburb of Kumasi.

The prosecutor said a few years ago, 42-year-old Gariba was ejected from the house and he decided to stay at the Anloga Mosque.

On June 4, 2012, at about 5:30pm, according to the prosecutor, the victim misbehaved, left home and passed the night at the mosque where the convict was occupying, for fear of being punished.

Chief Inspector Bebli said the convict took advantage of the situation in which the minor found herself and sexually abused her twice the same night.

After satisfying his libido, he gave the victim GH¢1.00 and warned her not to disclose the act to anyone.

According to the prosecutor, on June 5, 2012, at about 5:30am, the mother of the victim went for her usual morning prayers at the mosque where she surprisingly found her daughter lying naked beside the convict.

When her mother interrogated her, she confessed her sexual escapade with the convict. The mother then lodged a complaint with the police, leading to the convict’s arrest.

In Awudu’s caution statement, he admitted to the offence and was arraigned after investigations.

Source: James Quansah, Kumasi

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