Mrs Justice Mariama Owusu, an Appeals Court Judge has reminded staff of the judiciary not to sacrifice the law on the altar of insidious cultural beliefs and tradition. She said the law was supreme and surpasses all cultural beliefs and traditional practices and should therefore be upheld in the administration of justice, at all times. Mrs Justice Owusu was speaking at the inauguration of the Nkwanta North District Court at Kpassa in the Volta Region. She said although it was right for the citizenry to admire and respect their cultural and traditional heritage, there was the need to make away with outmoded practices such as forced marriages, which impugned on the rights of the individual. Mrs Justice Owusu said the age for consented marriage under the Constitution was 18 years, stating that minors under compulsion to marry below that age constituted a criminal offence of incest, defilement, sexual assault and forced marriage. She therefore appealed to the traditional authorities and other stakeholders to review the practice and allow minors to undergo formal education till they are matured to marry and also contribute their quota towards nation building. Mrs Justice Owusu asked the Judiciary to be tactful and proactive in the discharge of their duties and strive to investigate and prosecute cases involving fragile and defenceless minors. Source: GNA