By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Sunyani (Bono), Aug. 02, GNA – Dr Freda Prempeh, a former Deputy Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to compel Mr Yakubu Mohammed, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ahafo Ano South East Constituency, to apologise publicly over his comments directed to a minor in Parliament.
During an educational visit to Parliament last month, the MP told a pupil of the Citadel School that: “You’re very beautiful, when you grow up, I will marry you.”
A video of the MP addressing the pupils at the Parliament had since gone viral in social media, sparking serious public criticisms, especially from the quarters of child right advocates.
Reacting, Dr Prempeh, also a former MP and the founder of the Ultimate Women Foundation (UWF) described the MP’s comment as unfortunate, unacceptable and breached the Children Act 1998 (Act 560).
She emphasised that the UWF remained dedicated to empowering indigenous women and girls to know their worth and contribute meaningful to societal development by tackling challenges inimical to their growth and holistic development.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Sunyani, Dr Prempeh said Section 14 of Act 560 criminalised “promising to marry a girl who is under the age of 18 years.”
She regretted that the MP’s comments constituted a “betrothal” or child marriage agreement which was strictly illegal and criminalised by the Act.
“We shouldn’t tolerate such unguarded, unfortunate and inappropriate comments from a legislator and elected official, and we must strongly kick against that,” Dr Prempeh emphasised.
Dr Prempeh noted that: “Just apologising in new media isn’t the right and appropriate thing to do.”
She urged the Speaker of Parliament to force the MP to apologise publicly in Parliament where he made such an inappropriate remark to the girl’s family, Parliament and Ghanaians in general.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo
Reporter: Dennis Peprah, GNA
Email: [email protected]