Top Pastor, 5 others jailed for manhandling a baby in a church ritual

A Popular self-styled pastor based in Bongo-Balungu in the Upper East Region, Kwabena Akongyaane Atogpelipe, and Five(5) of his congregants have been convicted for physical abuse of a baby by a Bolgatanga Circuit Court.

They have been convicted to a fine and handed an additional one-week custodial sentence each

The six(6) persons were seen in a viral video physically manhandling and abusing the baby in the church auditorium as the rest of the congregation looked on in what they claimed was a ritual of the Church

Kwebena Akongyaane Atogpelipe, the leader of the church had explained that the physical abuse of the child was meant to fortify him against attacks of witchcraft and other demonic manifestations.

But he and the five others were arrested by the Bongo District police and have now been prosecuted by the courts and convicted.

In summary, all 6 persons pleaded guilty to the charge of physical abuse of a child and begged for mercy. The judge in his judgment fined the woman who was swinging the child Ghc3,000.

The pastor’s wife will pay Ghc2, 400. While all four men, including the pastor, are to pay Ghc2,400 and still spend one week in jail. The reason for not imprisoning the women is that they have children under 2 years who are still breastfeeding.

Efforts are underway to pay the respective fines which amounts to Ghc15,000. After the payment, all the four men will immediately be taken to the Navrongo Central Prisons where they will spend the next one week,” Bolgatanga-based journalist Nicholas Azebire reported.

Many have expressed happiness over the conviction, lamenting how the weird and outlandish practices of the pastor have brought havoc in Bongo-Balungu and surrounding communities.

Meanwhile, the convicts are hard at work raising funds to pay the fine before proceeding to the Navrongo Prisons to serve their jail term.