Supreme Court nominee Justice Dennis Dominic Adjei has raised serious concerns about inconsistencies in Ghana’s legal age thresholds, questioning why the law allows 16-year-olds to consent to sex but not to marriage.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on June 16, 2025, Justice Adjei posed a direct question: “If you cannot marry at 16, why have sex at 16?” The remark challenged what many see as a contradiction between the Children’s Act of 1998, which sets the legal marriage age at 18, and the Criminal Offences Act of 1960, which allows sexual consent at 16.
His comment draws renewed attention to a long-running debate among legal professionals and child protection advocates. Critics argue that this legal gap exposes minors to exploitation, complicates efforts to prosecute cases of defilement, and contributes to a rise in teenage pregnancies and child neglect.
Justice Adjei’s position signals a push for legal reform to harmonize Ghana’s laws on consent and marriage. As his vetting continues, his views are expected to fuel national discussions on protecting minors and closing policy loopholes.
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