Supreme Court nominee Justice Philip Bright Mensah has advised against raising Ghana’s legal age of sexual consent, arguing that current laws reflect social realities and enforcement limitations.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, Justice Mensah addressed concerns raised by Pusiga MP Laadi Ayii Ayamba, who questioned the legal gap between the age of consent—set at 16 under the Criminal Offences Act—and the legal age for marriage, which remains 18 under the Children’s Act.
Critics say the legal inconsistency exposes minors, particularly girls, to increased vulnerability, including teenage pregnancy and abandonment, without the protections that come with formal marriage. Justice Mensah, however, cautioned against legislative changes that may prove difficult to enforce.
“Will these girls wait till 18? That is a question we must also look at,” he said. “If she remains in chastity till 18, that is well and good. But when you, as a parent, are sleeping and your child is somewhere you have no idea about, how can you control her?”
He concluded that, under the present circumstances, “the law should remain as it is, at least for now.”
His remarks come amid renewed public debate over adolescent rights, child protection, and the role of the state in regulating personal behavior. A day earlier, fellow nominee Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei called for a critical review of the legal framework, asking, “If you cannot marry at 16, why have sex at 16?”
The issue has reignited calls for harmonizing Ghana’s statutory laws, balancing legal consistency with the challenges of cultural norms and law enforcement.
Source:TheDotNews