SHOCKING: Anger as Traditional Ghanaian Priest, 63, Marries 12-Year-Old Girl

 A 63-year-old traditional priest in Ghana caused anger by marrying a 12-year-old girl.

The priest, named Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, married the girl in a traditional ceremony on Saturday.

Community leaders defended the marriage, saying it's part of their customs and traditions, even though Ghana's legal age for marriage is 18.

Child marriage is decreasing in Ghana, but it still happens. Around 19% of girls in the country marry before 18, and 5% marry before 15, according to Girls Not Brides, a global NGO.

Videos and photos of the wedding circulated on social media, sparking outrage among Ghanaians.

During the ceremony, women advised the girl on her wifely duties and told her to use perfumes to appeal to her husband. This fueled anger as it implied the marriage wasn't just symbolic.

Critics want the marriage dissolved and an investigation into Mr. Tsuru.

Community leaders defended the marriage, saying it's tradition. They said the girl began the process to become the priest's wife six years ago and that it didn't affect her schooling.

The girl will undergo another ceremony to prepare her for her role as the priest's wife, including childbirth responsibilities.

Mr. Tsuru is a high-ranking traditional leader in the Nungua community in Accra. He performs rituals for the community's well-being and leads cultural events.

The government hasn't responded to the controversy. Ghanaian law allows customary marriages but doesn't permit child marriages under cultural or traditional reasons.