A shocking incident occurred during a Church service in Balungu, Bongo District in the Upper East Region of Ghana, as a pastor and five other Church members were arrested for allegedly manhandling a five-week-old baby.
The suspects were identified as Reverend Kwabena Atogpeelige Akongyaane, Head Pastor of Jesus Spanner Miracle Church, Mary Akongyaane, his wife and mother of the baby, Robert Aberinga Akugre, Veronica Ayamga, Zacchaeus Ayamga Avaliyemah, and Daniel Ayeliga Ageekilingo.
The arrests were made after a video went viral, showing a woman allegedly putting the baby’s life at risk during the Church service.
The disturbing video showed the woman swinging the child like a handkerchief with the head of the baby facing downwards and throwing it in the air with one hand while holding the legs of the baby and turning it upside down amidst drumming and dancing. The pastor and his wife, the biological parents of the child, were seen looking on while the incident took place.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, the Head Pastor admitted to the video and stated that it was a ritual in the Church to welcome every newborn.
He claimed the ritual was a directive from the Holy Spirit to fortify new-born babies in the Church against spiritual attacks and other bad spirits that would attempt to attack them.
Mary and Veronica, who are breastfeeding mothers, were granted Police enquiry bail while the rest were detained and would be arraigned before court.
The case has sparked outrage and condemnation from several quarters, with people demanding that those responsible for this act face the full force of the law.
By Vincent Kubi