A 14-year-old girl who was allegedly forced into marriage with a 27-year-old man at Aboaso-Ntonsu in the Kwabre East Municipality of the Ashanti Region, has been rescued following swift intervention by child protection stakeholders.
Defence for Children International–Ghana (DCI-Ghana), chair of the Girls Not Brides Ghana Partnership, led the rescue operation in collaboration with the She Leads Social Movement, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the Anti-Child Marriage Unit, and the Department of Children.
The intervention followed a social media post by anti-child marriage advocate Fati Aboni on September 20, 2025, which called on the authorities to save the victim.
The Ashanti Regional She Leads Social Movement traced the informant and referred the case to DCI-Ghana for further action.
Investigations by the DCI-Ghana confirmed inconsistencies in reports about the victim’s age and identity.
With support from the Department of Social Welfare and the Department of Children, the matter was reported to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service.
On September 23, police confirmed the case was in breach of Section 15 of the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560), which prohibits child marriage.
A joint operation by the Agona and Mamponteng police units led to the arrest of the victim’s grandfather, a woman posing as her mother, and other suspects.
The girl and the complainant were later relocated under police escort to ensure their safety, and they were placed in a shelter under the care of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection while investigations continue.
Professor George Oppong Appiagyei Ampong, the Executive Director of DCI-Ghana, expressed appreciation to the police, DOVVSU, and community leaders for their swift action.
He stressed that child marriage deprives girls of their right to education, health, safety, and a future, and warned that it remains a criminal offence under Ghanaian law.
He urged government and child protection agencies to strengthen systems and provide adequate resources to combat child marriage, while calling on traditional and religious leaders to stop legitimising harmful practices in the name of culture and religion.