Afia Schwarzenegger, also known as Valentina Agyeiwaa, has raised concerns over the alarming practice of marrying young girls off to deities in Ghana.
The media personality expressed outrage over the recent case of a 16-year-old girl who was reportedly handed over to a deity by a 63-year-old Nungua Wulomo.
Rev. Dr. Ankrah clarified that the girl was chosen by the deity, not married to the Wulomo. He cited mysterious circumstances surrounding the girl’s birth, claiming that she was stuck in her mother’s womb for two years until the deity intervened.
Afia Schwarzenegger condemned the practice, attributing it to poverty and questioning why affluent families are not subjected to such customs.
She raised important points about the role of wealth in accessing medical interventions during childbirth, criticizing the reliance on traditional beliefs over modern medical practices.
The Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, has promised to investigate the matter. Organizations like Africa Education Watch have called for legal action against the Gborbu Wulomo for allegedly marrying an underage girl unlawfully.
This incident has sparked a larger conversation about the intersection of traditional beliefs, poverty, and the rights of young girls in Ghana.