Supreme Court judge nominee Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei has raised concerns about Ghana’s legal framework, questioning the inconsistency between the legal age for marriage and the age of sexual consent.
During his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, June 16, 2025, Justice Adjei raised a difficult question: “If you cannot marry at 16, why have sex at 16?”
His remark highlights a long-standing debate over the different age thresholds set by Ghanaian law.
Currently, Ghana’s Children’s Act of 1998 sets the minimum age for marriage at 18, while the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 allows sexual consent at 16. This legal gap means a 16-year-old can legally engage in sexual activity but cannot enter into marriage.
Critics argue that this disparity exposes minors to risks such as teenage pregnancies and under the law.
Justice Adjei’s comments suggest a need for reviewing and possibly harmonizing these age limits to better protect young people.
Source Ebenezer De-Gaulle
