By Jeremiah Nutsugah
Representative of the Gborbu Palace, Rev. Dr. D.N Gyasi-Ankrah, has clarified that what occurred between the traditional Ga Priest and the 16-year-old girl was not a physical marriage but rather a spiritual one.
Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, the 63-year-old Gborbu Wulomo, faced criticism when a video surfaced online showing him in a marriage ceremony with 12-year-old Naa Okromo.
The traditional ceremony, which attracted attention, took place on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Nungua.
Speaking on the Focus show on Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC)today 3rd April, he stated that the rites performed were not visible to people outside the temple, as they were all conducted within the temple’s confines.
He emphasized that there is no concept of child marriage or betrothal in this context, as the deity has already claimed her as its wife, making her the property of the deity.
He clarified that the 16-year-old girl is the wife of the deity called Gborbu and not of the Gborbu Wulomo, as the latter is merely representing the deity.
“It was a ceremony introducing the queen one step closer to the Gborbu shrine,” he added.
“The issue stems from physical thinking, but in the spiritual realm, when the deity possesses a child as young as 2 or 3 years old, to us she may seem young, but the deity will be working with the child because in the spirit realm, there is no concept of age, only maturity.”
“I want to stress that the girl may not necessarily like what she is doing or not doing, but she is under the possession of the spirit, and the spirit can come at any time,” he continued.
He also mentioned that the girl is the happiest woman with her duties, and her parents support her in her role.
