The Gender Minister-designate, Darkoa Newman, has disclosed that her outfit will return the teenage girl, who was speculated to have been married off to the Gborbu Wulomo of Nungua, to her parents.

According to her, the decision was taken after consultation with the Office of the Attorney General who advised that it was in the best interest of the child, Naa Okromo.

However, the parents will be made to sign a bond of good behaviour before Naa Okromo resumes living with them, the Minister-designate said at a press briefing on Thursday.

“...The Attorney General has issued an interim report, which is dated 18th April 2024, and has advised that in the best interest of the child and in accordance with Sections 2 and 5 of the Children's Act, the child should be released to her parents pending their complete review of the docket,” she said.

“Thus, the child will be reunited with her family today 18th April 2024 after the parents have signed a bond,” Madam Newman added.

She also assured that Naa Okromo will continue to pursue her education.

Among other things, the Minister-designate also revealed details of the required medical examinations the Social Welfare Department under the Ministry of Gender had undertaken on the teenage girl to ensure she was healthy.

“I would like you all to know that the medical assessment on the child, indicates that she is not pregnant and she has no immediate health concerns.

"Now Okromo's date of birth from records at her crash in the primary schools she attended indicates that she is 15 years old and she was born on the 18th of July 2008. “

There was widespread condemnation of the act of child marriage, triggered by reports of the alleged marriage of a 12-year-old girl to the Gborbu Wulomo-Shitse on March 30 in Nungua.

The 63-year-old priest Nuumo Borketey Laweh XXXIII, also known as Gborbu Wulomo, was seen performing the traditional marriage rights of Naa Okromo.

Following widespread criticism, the traditional council denied claims and insisted that the ceremony was a betrothal between the young girl and the priest.

According to the office of the Gborbu Wulomo, Naa Okromo is considered one of the special children chosen by the Gborbu deity to dedicate their lives to serving the god.

Again, the GaDangme Council clarified that the relationship between the Gborbu priest and the 12-year-old girl is simply a betrothal and not a marriage.

However, in response, CHRAJ and Civil Society Organisations including Occupy Ghana, Amnesty International, FIDA-Ghana and many others condemned the ceremony citing a violation of the Children's Act.

Shortly after, The Ghana Police Service announced that it had taken Naa Okromo and her mother under police protection.

Also, the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice urged the Ghana Police Service to expedite investigations into the alleged marriage.

Meanwhile, Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah revealed, on Thursday, that investigations are still ongoing to ascertain what happened during the viral ceremony.

"If anything adverse is found in this particular docket, we give you the assurance that we will initiate prosecutions but if there is nothing adverse about what happened, we will also let you know,” he said.