US-based Ghanaian disc jockey DJ Switch has criticised Ahafo Ano South East MP Yakubu Mohammed over remarks he made to a schoolgirl during an educational visit to Parliament, describing the comments as inappropriate and urging greater accountability in the protection of children.
The incident, captured in a video that has since gone viral on social media, occurred while the MP interacted with a group of pupils touring Parliament. In the footage, Mr Mohammed complimented one of the girls before saying:
“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 remarks prompted laughter from some of those present but have since generated widespread public debate.
Reacting to the video in a social media post, DJ Switch said the laughter reflected a broader societal problem.
“The fact that some people are laughing is exactly the problem. We have become so desensitised to adults making romantic comments about children that we have convinced ourselves that it’s a joke.”
She argued that children should never be portrayed as future romantic partners for adults, even in jest.
“Children are not the punchlines for such jokes. They’re not your future spouses. Children are not objects for adults to be making romantic or flirtatious comments about. They’re children.”
Addressing those who may dismiss the remarks as harmless, DJ Switch questioned why marriage should feature in conversations with children.
“I know somebody will say, ‘He didn’t mean it like that. It was just a joke.’ But why is marriage, even as a joke, the first thing that comes into the mind of an adult when speaking to a little girl? Why are we so comfortable putting children in imaginary romantic relationships with adults? Why is that acceptable?”
She maintained that the issue goes beyond political correctness and is fundamentally about safeguarding children’s innocence and wellbeing.
“This isn’t about political correctness. It’s about protecting children and respecting their innocence.”
DJ Switch further argued that the normalisation of such language is not limited to men, noting that women also make similar remarks that place children in imagined adult relationships.
“I’ve heard adults tell little boys that they will have girlfriends lined up. I’ve heard adults reserve children for someone’s son or daughter. I’ve literally heard families joke about babies dating each other.”
According to her, these comments have become so commonplace that many people no longer recognise the potential harm they may cause.
“We’ve normalised language that places children into adult relationships before they’re even old enough to understand what those relationships mean. Enough is enough.”
Drawing from her own experience, DJ Switch said she had been subjected to inappropriate comments since childhood, with some adults openly anticipating the day she would become “ripe.”
“I have adults in my comment section counting down to the day I become ripe, as if my childhood was just a waiting room for their attraction. You can’t confidently tell me that’s admiration. That’s disturbing.”
She described such behaviour as predatory and called for stronger accountability.
DJ Switch also questioned what action Parliament would take in response to the MP’s remarks and criticised what she described as inadequate enforcement against adults who make inappropriate comments about children online.
“So to the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, I ask: what accountability exists when one of your own has publicly made such inappropriate remarks towards a child?”
She further called on state institutions to take stronger measures to protect children from sexualising and predatory behaviour, both offline and online.
Meanwhile, MP Yakubu Mohammed has since apologised for his comments, acknowledging the concerns raised following the circulation of the video.
