DJ Switch Demands Action After MP's Viral Child Marriage Comments Spark Child Protection Outcry

A viral video has reignited serious concerns about child protection in Ghana after US-based Ghanaian DJ Switch publicly condemned remarks made by Ahafo Ano South East Member of Parliament Yakubu Mohammed during a school visit to Parliament. The incident has sparked broader discussions about normalised inappropriate language directed at children and the need for institutional accountability.

In the video, which circulated widely on social media, Mr Mohammed can be seen speaking to a group of visiting pupils. While addressing one girl, he told her: "You are very beautiful; when you grow up, I will marry you, so she is my wife. In the future, she will also be an MP." The comments drew laughter from those present, a response that has become central to the ensuing controversy.

DJ Switch's Condemnation and the Broader Issue

DJ Switch responded with sharp criticism, describing herself as "genuinely disgusted" by the remarks and rejecting characterisations of the comments as harmless humour. She emphasised that adults in positions of leadership bear a responsibility to model appropriate conduct around children.

Her critique extended beyond this single incident. DJ Switch highlighted what she views as a systemic problem: the normalisation of language that places children in imaginary romantic or sexual relationships with adults. She noted that such comments come from both men and women, citing examples such as adults telling children they will "have girlfriends lined up" or families joking about babies being "reserved" for one another.

"We've normalised language that places children into adult relationships before they're even old enough to understand what those relationships mean," she stated. "Enough is enough."

Why This Matters for Ghana

This incident raises urgent questions about child safeguarding frameworks in Ghana's public institutions. As a Member of Parliament, Mr Mohammed holds a position of public trust and authority. His comments—whether intended as jokes or not—were made in an official setting with young citizens present, setting a tone that some argue undermines efforts to protect minors.

DJ Switch's intervention is significant because it connects this isolated viral moment to broader patterns she has documented: adults leaving sexualising comments on children's social media, the absence of meaningful consequences for such behaviour, and what she describes as inadequate responses from authorities including Ghana's Cyber Security Authority.

The incident also touches on cultural attitudes. While some may view the MP's remarks through a lens of traditional humour or affection, critics argue that such a framing can obscure genuinely predatory patterns and that changing these norms is essential to child protection work in Ghana.

Accountability and Next Steps

Following public backlash, Mr Mohammed apologised for his comments. However, DJ Switch has pressed for clarity on what institutional measures Parliament will take, asking: "What accountability exists when one of your own has publicly made such inappropriate remarks towards a child?"

She has also called out what she views as weak enforcement against adults who post inappropriate comments targeting children online, citing her own experience reporting such content without seeing meaningful action from relevant authorities.

The incident underscores the gap between apologies and systemic change. Advocacy groups working on child protection in Ghana will likely use this moment to push for clearer policies, mandatory training for public officials, and stronger mechanisms for reporting and addressing inappropriate conduct towards minors in both physical and digital spaces.