Government
Statistician, Dr. Philomena Nyarko, this week proffered that the legal
marriage age should be fixed at 23 years to ensure that young women
become physically, socially and psychologically prepared before
procreation.
Dr. Philomena Nyarko made the remarks at the launch
of the 5th African Youth and Governance Conference in Accra under the
theme “Youth inclusive governance: Harnessing Africa’s Demographic
Potential”.
During the launch, she stressed the need for the
nation to put in place measures against child bearing in order to
improve the living conditions of families.
"It is well known that
health outcome for both mother and child improve, if pregnancy is
delayed until when the young woman has matured for marriage an
childbearing, to help save the lives of both mother and child," she said
The new age, she stated, will also help to check the population growth of the country.
But
Ursula Owusu, who also doubles as the NPP Member of Parliament for
Ablekuma West, sharply disagrees and finds the proposition absurd.
According
to her, scientifically, the libido in adolescents tends to rise in
their youthful years and therefore should there be any upward
adjustments in the marriage age, the country may live to fight the
battles of sexual misconduct.
She pontificated on Oman FM that
the youth may become promiscuous if the current marriage age entrenched
in the constitution is reviewed and fixed at 23 years.
In her
view, the ripe age should remain at 18 years but left to the discretion
of the spouses to determine the period to seal their relationship in
marriage.
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