Ghana, a nation celebrated for its vibrant culture, rich history, and progressive strides in various sectors, now finds itself under an uncomfortable microscope. The recent public remarks by Yakubu Mohammed, Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano South East, have not only sparked national outrage but have also laid bare a disturbing reality that cannot be ignored. In a video that has since gone viral, Mohammed, addressing a group of visiting schoolchildren, singled out a young girl, declared her “beautiful,” and announced that she would be his wife when she grew up. The room laughed. He smiled. The clip spread like wildfire across social media, exposing a deeply troubling mindset that extends far beyond this individual.
This incident is not an isolated anomaly. It is a symptom of a far larger, systemic issue—one that threatens the dignity, safety, and future of countless Ghanaian girls. While some may attempt to dismiss it as a cultural quirk or an unfortunate lapse in judgment, the truth is far more sinister. The comments made by Mohammed are not just offensive; they are a chilling reflection of a society where child marriage and sexual violence against girls remain alarmingly prevalent.
The Alarming Reality of Child Marriage in Ghana
Ghana’s struggle with child marriage is well-documented, yet the numbers remain staggering. According to the National Strategic Framework on Ending Child Marriage (2017–2026), approximately one in five girls in Ghana is married before the age of 18. That translates to hundreds of thousands of young girls whose childhoods are stolen, their futures exchanged for the whims of adults who believe they are “ready” for marriage.
When a Member of Parliament, in a position of authority and visibility, makes a joke about marrying a primary school pupil, he is not merely stepping outside societal norms—he is embracing them. His words are not a joke; they are a public affirmation of a reality that too many Ghanaian girls face every day. The laughter in the room was not innocent; it was complicity. It was the silent endorsement of an idea that reduces girls to objects of adult desire, to be traded, controlled, and possessed.
The Shadow of Sexual Violence: A Crisis in Silence
The issue does not end with child marriage. Ghana also grapples with a pervasive culture of sexual violence against girls, with statistics that should shock every citizen into action. National surveys reveal that nearly 38% of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have experienced at least one act of sexual violence. In 2020 alone, Ghana’s Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit recorded over 1,000 cases of defilement, yet experts warn that these numbers are only the tip of the iceberg. The majority of cases go unreported due to shame, stigma, and fear—factors that perpetuate the cycle of silence and impunity.
Mohammed’s comment was not made in a vacuum. It was delivered in a public space, broadcast to the nation, and met with laughter from adults who should have known better. This is not the behavior of an isolated individual; it is the behavior of a society that has normalized the objectification of girls. When a powerful figure like a Member of Parliament can make such a remark without consequence, it sends a dangerous message: that the bodies and futures of girls are disposable, that their consent is irrelevant, and that their voices are unworthy of protection.
The Hypocrisy of Apologies and Damage Control
The response to this incident has been predictable—an apology, carefully crafted to appear sincere while doing little to address the root of the problem. Apologies offered only after public outrage has erupted are not acts of remorse; they are damage control. They are attempts to smooth over the scandal without addressing the systemic issues that allowed such a comment to be made in the first place.
Mohammed’s words were not spoken in private, in a moment of drunken recklessness or cultural misunderstanding. They were deliberate, public, and unapologetic—delivered with the confidence of a man who believes his position grants him immunity. The discomfort that followed was not from his conscience but from the realization that his words had exposed a wound in Ghana’s society that cannot be ignored.
Culture as a Shield, Not an Excuse
Some may attempt to justify Mohammed’s comments by invoking culture—arguing that they stem from traditional practices or playful customs. However, this defense is flawed and dangerous. Culture is not an excuse for harm. It is a living, evolving framework that must be examined in the context of modern values, human rights, and legal protections.
The tradition of “playful betrothal” or “child marriage” was not designed for public broadcasts, political platforms, or school visits. It was not intended to reduce a child to a future wife in front of an audience that includes children, parents, and officials. To cling to these customs as justification is to ignore the reality that they have been weaponized to justify abuse.
Ghana’s cultural heritage is rich and diverse, but it must be separated from practices that harm. The challenge now is to educate the public—through media, religious institutions, and community leaders—on the difference between authentic tradition and harmful excuses. We cannot continue to hide behind culture when powerful men use it to legitimize the violation of children.
Demanding Accountability and Systemic Change
The outrage over Mohammed’s comments must translate into meaningful action. Here’s what must happen:
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Parliament Must Enforce Real Consequences
The current response—a statement of apology—is insufficient. Parliament must impose visible sanctions on MPs who engage in such behavior. This could include suspensions, fines, or even expulsion from office. Accountability must be swift, public, and uncompromising. -
Safeguarding Protocols Must Be Enforced
Every institution that interacts with children—schools, government offices, NGOs—must adopt strict safeguarding protocols. No elected official should ever be alone with a child without supervision, oversight, and clear boundaries. The incident in question occurred in a public setting, yet the lack of oversight allowed Mohammed to make his remarks without immediate intervention. -
Public Education on Gender Equality Must Be Prioritized
Media, religious leaders, and traditional authorities must actively challenge harmful norms. Campaigns must be launched to educate communities on the dangers of child marriage, sexual violence, and the objectification of girls. Schools should integrate gender sensitivity training into their curricula to ensure that future generations reject such attitudes. -
The Silence Must End
The laughter in that room was not neutral. It was permission. Every Ghanaian who witnessed this incident—whether in person or through the video—has a responsibility to speak out. When a man tells a child she will be his wife, when a joke reduces a girl to a future possession, the silence is complicity. We must reject this mindset and demand better for our daughters, sisters, and nieces.
A Nation’s Future at Stake
Ghana prides itself on being a progressive nation, a leader in West Africa. Yet, if we continue to turn a blind eye to the systemic abuse of girls, we betray the very values we claim to uphold. The fact that a Member of Parliament could make such a remark and still retain his position is a failure of leadership, a failure of society, and a failure of our collective conscience.
This incident is not just about one man. It is about a culture that has normalized the exploitation of girls. It is about a system that allows powerful men to speak with impunity. And it is about a nation that must wake up before it is too late.
The next time a man tells a little girl she will be his wife, do not laugh. Do not smile. Speak up. Challenge him. Because the silence in that chamber was not innocent—it was permission, and permission has already cost too many girls their childhoods, their safety, and their futures.
Now is the time to show them otherwise. Now is the time to demand change. And now is the time to protect our girls.
