SAY NO TO GROOMING & PREDATION. PROTECT THE GIRL CHILD: Demand the Resignation of MP Mohammed Yakubu. During a school field trip to the Parliament House of Ghana, Member of Parliament Mr. Mohammed Yakubu targeted an underage schoolgirl out of many others with highly inappropriate marriage and grooming remarks.

We, the undersigned global citizens, call for an absolute zero‑tolerance  toward the normalization of child marriage, adult‑minor romantic framing, and grooming language or act by individuals in positions of public trust. Protecting minors is a universal human‑rights mandate. When public officials use their platforms to speak about or normalize marrying children, they undermine global efforts to eradicate child marriage, betrothal practices, and all forms of exploitation of girls. We demand that international bodies monitor and penalize government officials who engage in, promote, or excuse such conduct — whether through explicit actions or grooming language.

National Accountability in Ghana
To the Speaker of Parliament, the Parliamentary Disciplinary Committee, and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection: While national and global frameworks protect children conceptually, enforcement must occur immediately in Accra. We demand strict, public disciplinary action against Mr. Mohammed Yakubu, MP for Ahafo Ano South East.

During a school field trip to Parliament House by students from The Citadel School, Mr. Yakubu Mohammed singled out a primary school girl (likely under age 10 or younger), telling her:

 “You are very beautiful. When you grow up, I will marry you. So she is my wife.”

His subsequent apology—which pins the incident on "Mossi-Dagomba playful traditions"—cannot and does not justify grooming language directed at a child surrounded by her peers inside the national Parliament House. This excuse reveals a pervasive and dangerous mental model or mindset that uses culture as a cover to normalize predatory behavior.

Statutory Violations of Ghanaian Law:
We state categorically that the MP's actions stand in direct violation of the laws of the land. 

First, Article 28(1)(d) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana mandates that children receive "special protection against exposure to physical and moral hazards," while Article 28(3) explicitly forbids "degrading treatment." Targeting an underage student with marital propositions inside the Parliament House constitutes a profound moral hazard and degrading treatment.
Second, Section 14(1) of the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560) strictly dictates that "No person shall force a child to be betrothed... or to be married," establishing the absolute minimum age of marriage at 18 years. Publicly claiming a primary school child as a "wife" “when you grow I will marry you”represents an illegal verbal betrothal. Cultural playfulness cannot bypass statutory criminal laws. The Parliament of Ghana must enforce its own laws.

If a school child cannot be safe in the Parliament House of Ghana, then no girl child is safe in Ghana. We demand the following actions from national leadership:

   1. Mr. Mohammed Yakubu resigns immidiately as a Member of Parliament and be barred from holding any public office

2. Mr. Mohammed Yakubu should be barred from any role or engagement be it private or public involving children.

3. A public declaration from the Parliamentary leadership reinforcing that the chamber is a safe space for children, entirely free from inappropriate predatory and grooming  language as well as adult commentary targeting children. 

Evidence for Review: 
The following viral broadcasts and community reports serve as direct evidence of the incident:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbdGM6msAn-/
 ⁠Pulse Ghana: https://www.instagram.com/p/DbdBwQijE_3/?img_index=1&igsh=MXhjdGVydjhiZTFyYQ==
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbdH0pwu02T/
⁠https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dbc4lDLM_bB/
The Lawmaker's Response: Read the formal statement and cultural clarification issued by the politician on the [Onua TV Official Broadcast](https://www.instagram.com/p/DbdhBKDIQQI/
⁠And subsequent public reaction on the [Channel One TV Summary](https://www.facebook.com/Channel1tvgh/posts/member-of-parliament-for-ahafo-ano-south-east-yakubu-mohammed-has-expressed-regr/1569289025237334/

Your signature on this petition will amplify our voice and send a powerful message that we will not accept child grooming in any form, be it language or act, intentional or not from anyone. Demand justice, accountability, and protection for the vulnerable.

Please sign this petition and help us safeguard the rights and futures of young girls everywhere.