Octogenarian convicted over forced marriage

An 84 year old man, who forced his 17-year-old Senior High School (SHS) student into marriage after collecting her bride price, has been convicted by an Accra Circuit Court.

Mallam Gado was found guilty on a charge of attempting to commit crime to wit: compulsion of marriage.

The Court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin Doku sentenced Mallam Gado to a fine of GHC 600.00 or in default serve a 12 month jail term.

The 84 year old was made to sign a bond to take care of the victim until she is of age to marry.

Detective Inspector Kofi Atimbire, the prosecutor, told the court that the victim is a student of a Senior High School, while the accused person is a security man at Pokuase.

The prosecutor said the victim lives with Mallam Gado and her mother at Barikisu Gado at Pokuase, a suburb of Accra.

The prosecuting officer said on July 29, 2015 at about 1430 hrs, police received information from an informant that the security man had given his daughter’s to a certain man under duress.

The police proceeded to Mallam Gado’s house and arrested him.

During investigations, he told the police he had indeed collected money from a certain Yakubu who wanted to marry his daughter.

The prosecutor said Mallam Gado, however, refused to give more information about the said Yakubu but said there was nothing he could do to stop the marriage.

In addition, he said, the wife of Mallam Gado was also invited to the police station for questioning.

The prosecutor said the woman told police that once the father of the victim had agreed to the marriage, she had no choice than to accept the decision.

He said thorough investigations were conducted by the police after which the accused person was arraigned before Court.