A visit to Parliament meant to inspire young minds has taken a troubling turn after a video emerged showing a Member of Parliament (MP) telling a schoolgirl that he would marry her when she grows up—a remark that has ignited outrage across social media and renewed calls for public officials to exercise restraint in their interactions with children.
Ahafo Ano South East Member of Parliament, Yakubu Mohammed, was recorded during an educational excursion by schoolchildren, where he engaged with pupils before singling out one of the girls.
"You are very beautiful; when you grow up, I will marry you, so she is my wife. In future she will also be an MP and all of you as well will be somebody in future," he said, drawing laughter from some of those present.
The room laughed. The internet did not.
Within hours, the clip had been shared thousands of times, with many Ghanaians questioning what kind of message such a comment sends—not just to the child in the video, but to every young girl watching.
Some critics on social media have argued that the remark, even if intended as a light-hearted joke, undermines the purpose of the visit: to encourage children to see themselves as future leaders, not as future spouses.
Child rights advocates have been particularly vocal, pointing out that public figures occupy positions of trust and influence, and that their words carry weight.
In an era where conversations about child protection and the treatment of girls are gaining momentum, many say the MP's comment was a step backward.
The backlash has also sparked broader conversations about the conduct expected of elected officials. While some have defended the MP, describing the comment as a harmless attempt at humour, others insist that such jokes are neither funny nor acceptable, especially when directed at minors.
Following the backlash, the MP has since apologised and acknowledged that his comment was in a bad taste.
He says he was trying to locate the family of the schoolgirl, who was an excursion to Parliament from northern Ghana, to apologise to them about his comment.
