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A Cameroonian Catholic priest resident in Ghana, Reverend Father Yves-Lucien Evaga Njana, has been dragged to the Family and Juvenile Court in Accra for having a child with a 24-year-old Ghanaian lady and failing to live up to his responsibilities as a father. 

Rev. Fr Njana is the Director of the Biblical Centre for Africa and Madagascar (BICAM) situated at the Airport Residential Area in Accra. 

The lady, Josephine Ganyoame, is asking the court for an order for the priest to subject himself to a paternity test to determine the father of the child. 
She is also requesting the court to make an order that the irresponsibility of the priest breaches the child’s right to a name, basic necessities of life, welfare, social protection and care guaranteed under the Children’s Act. 

Ms Ganyoame is also praying the court for custody of the child with reasonable access to the priest. 

Compensation

She is also asking for a monthly maintenance of GHc600 and GHc50,000 as compensation for the emotional stress she had been put through by the priest. 

In an affidavit in support of her action, Ms Ganyoame averred that around the first week of October 2014, she was nearly knocked down by a vehicle being driven by the priest at East Legon. 

After the incident, she claimed that through apologies rendered by the priest, they became friends and he introduced himself as Andy who worked with a non-governmental organisation. 

Subsequently, she said, when he got to know that she was a senior high school graduate preparing to enter the university, he promised to assist her financially and pay for her admission to the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA). 

Sexual harassment 

But contrary to her expectation, she claimed, the priest started harassing her sexually and finally succeeded in going to bed with her on three occasions within three weeks. 

In early November 2014, she suspected that she was pregnant and when she told him, he asked her to abort the pregnancy if it was confirmed to be so, but she refused, to his dislike. 

Subsequently, she said, when it was confirmed that she was pregnant, he took her to a clinic at East Legon for an abortion but she refused for fear that she might lose her life. 

After resisting subtle efforts to get her to abort the baby, she said, the priest arranged a meeting between them and two others, during which she was asked how much she needed to take care of herself. 

Finally, she was given GH¢20,000, out of which she rented an apartment and bought a piece of land near Afienya. 

Refusal to take up responsibility

But after delivery, she said, the priest failed to take responsibility for her and the baby and when she reported the matter to the police and the priest was invited, he claimed he was living in Ghana and, therefore, had diplomatic immunity and could not be arrested. 

About two months later, Ms Ganyoame claimed, the priest called for a meeting involving her family, during which he threatened that if they did not stop following up on the matter, he would deal with the police and his brother, Mawuli Ganyoame. 

A week later, she alleged, her brother died mysteriously in a road accident and subsequently the police and her family stopped following up on the issue. 

She averred that till date the baby had not been named and did not have a surname, which was in violation of the Children’s Act. 

Diplomatic immunity 

Mr Francis Xavier Sosu, counsel for Ms Ganyoame, told the Daily Graphic that they preferred a criminal case against the priest but because of his diplomatic immunity, they had to resort to the civil court.

He said because of the priest’s diplomatic status, his prolonged stay in Ghana was not guaranteed and, therefore, the proper maintenance of the child had to be ensured. The court has slated April 20, 2016 for hearing.