Ahafo Ano South East Member of Parliament, Yakubu Mohammed, has come under intense public criticism after a video surfaced showing him telling a schoolgirl during an educational visit to Parliament that he would marry her when she grows up.
The incident, which occurred during an excursion by schoolchildren to Parliament, has triggered widespread debate on social media, with many Ghanaians questioning the appropriateness of the remark and calling on public officials to exercise greater caution in their interactions with children.
In the widely circulated video, the MP is seen engaging with the pupils before singling out one of the girls and saying, “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.”
The comment drew laughter from some people present at the event. However, after the video was shared online, it attracted widespread condemnation, with many social media users describing the remark as inappropriate, particularly because it was directed at a minor.
Critics argued that the purpose of the educational visit was to inspire children to aspire to leadership and public service, and that comments of such nature detracted from that objective. Several users expressed concern that the statement sent the wrong message to young girls and undermined ongoing efforts to promote child protection and respect for children’s rights.
Child rights advocates also weighed in on the controversy, stressing that public office holders occupy positions of trust and influence and must be mindful of the impact their words and actions can have on children. They argued that, regardless of whether the statement was intended as a joke, it failed to reflect the standard of conduct expected of elected leaders.
The incident has also reignited broader discussions about the behaviour expected of public officials in public settings. While some people defended the MP, insisting that the comment was a harmless attempt at humour with no malicious intent, others maintained that jokes involving marriage and children are inappropriate and should have no place in interactions with minors.
Following the public backlash, Mr Mohammed issued an apology, acknowledging that his comment was made in poor taste. He said he regretted the remark and disclosed that he was making efforts to trace the family of the schoolgirl, who was part of a group visiting Parliament from northern Ghana, so he could apologise to them personally.
The controversy continues to generate public debate, with many observers calling for greater sensitivity and professionalism from public office holders, particularly when engaging with children during official events.
Philbert Amiba Ayuusah