Actress and media personality Joselyn Dumas has sparked a conversation about the need for society to rethink behaviours that have been accepted as normal, particularly when they involve comments made about children.
The actress criticised the growing tendency among some adults to make remarks about young girls that are often dismissed as jokes, insisting that such statements should not be treated lightly.
In a post on X, Dumas raised concerns about grown men publicly describing underage girls as their “wives” or making comments suggesting they would marry them once they become adults.
She argued that these expressions, even when presented as playful remarks, can affect how society views children and weaken efforts to protect their innocence.
“We really need to UNLEARN the things society has normalized. A grown man publicly referring to an underage girl as ‘HIS WIFE’ and saying he’ll marry her when she grows up should not be laughed off or treated as harmless banter. Children are children. We must do better and protect their innocence,” she wrote.
Her comments follow the controversy surrounding Ahafo Ano South East Member of Parliament Yakubu Mohammed, who faced public criticism after a video surfaced showing him making remarks to an underage schoolgirl during a visit to Parliament.
In the viral footage, the lawmaker was heard telling the student, “You are very beautiful; when you grow up, I will marry you, so she is my wife. In future, she will also be an MP.”
The comments triggered widespread discussion online, with many questioning whether such statements were appropriate, especially from a public figure engaging with a child.
Some social media users stressed that adults must be more mindful of the language they use around minors, arguing that remarks made in jest can still carry harmful implications and should not be normalised.
Amid the public backlash, Mohammed issued an unqualified apology, acknowledging that his comments were inappropriate and recognising the discomfort they caused the pupil, her family, members of the public, and particularly women.
The MP said he deeply regretted his remarks and extended his sincere apologies to the schoolgirl, her family, and the wider public.
See her post below.
We really need to UNLEARN the things society has normalized. A grown man publicly referring to an underage girl as “HIS WIFE” and saying he’ll marry her when she grows up should not be laughed off or treated as harmless banter. Children are children. We must do better and protect…
— JOSELYN DUMAS (@Joselyn_Dumas) August 2, 2026
