Ghana MP Yakubu Mohammed apologises for marriage comment to schoolgirl
Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano South East, Yakubu Mohammed, was recorded telling a primary‑school pupil that he would marry her when she grew up. The video went viral on social media, prompting widespread public backlash and criticism of the MP’s conduct.
Mohammed issued a public apology, acknowledging the remarks were inappropriate and expressing regret. He said he would visit the school to apologise personally to the child and her family and pledged to be more careful in future interactions with minors.
Gender‑rights advocate Akosua Manu petitioned Speaker Alban Bagbin to investigate the incident and consider sanctions under parliamentary standing orders. The civil‑society group Rights Accountability Network Africa (RANA) called for Parliament to adopt comprehensive child‑safeguarding policies, arguing that an apology alone is insufficient to protect children in public institutions.
Entities: Ahafo Ano South East · Akosua Manu · Alban Bagbin · Ghana · Parliament of Ghana · Rights Accountability Network Africa · Yakubu Mohammed · schoolgirl (unnamed)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] MP Yakubu Mohammed told a primary school pupil that he would marry her when she grows up. (Video of the interaction captured the comment.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Mohammed said he will not repeat such comments and will be more careful in future interactions with children. (Stated in his apology.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The incident sparked widespread public backlash and debate on social media. (Multiple reports described criticism and calls for greater sensitivity.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The video of the MP's comment went viral on social media. (Multiple reports noted widespread circulation.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Advocate Akosua Manu petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to investigate and sanction the MP. (Petition dated 31 July 2026 cited the remarks as a breach of standing orders and child‑protection law.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rights Accountability Network Africa called for Parliament to adopt comprehensive child‑safeguarding standards. (Statement said an apology is not a safeguarding policy and urged policy reforms.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Mohammed plans to visit the school to apologise personally to the pupil and her family. (He disclosed steps to contact the local MP for the school.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] MP Yakubu Mohammed publicly apologized for the remarks, calling them inappropriate. (He issued statements and interviews expressing regret.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The incident sparked widespread public backlash on social media. (multiple articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] MP Yakubu Mohammed publicly apologized for the remarks. (multiple articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] MP Yakubu Mohammed told a primary‑school pupil that he would marry her when she grew up. (multiple articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Mohammed said he would visit the school to apologise personally to the pupil and her family. (multiple articles)