Audio By Carbonatix
The Catholic Bishop Conference says it is unaware of a case involving a Catholic Priest, Reverend Father Yves-Lucien Evaga Njana who is alleged to have impregnated a 24-year-old student.
General Secretary of the National Catholic Secretariat, Very Reverend Father Nicholas Afriyie said the only time the Secretariat came close to knowing about the issue was when a colleague drew his attention to publications on some online media platforms.
Father Afriyie was reacting to the news of the allegation on Joy News.
The issue came to public notice when a 24-years-old student, Josephine Ganyoame disclosed that Rev Njana had impregnated her and has refused to take care of 'their' eight months old baby.
She disclosed to Joy News that she met the Catholic Father some where in October 2014 after she was nearly knocked down by a car driven the Catholic minister on the Ghana link road in Accra.
She said after some discussions with him, he promised to send her to the school of her choice.
She further disclosed she secured an admission to University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), and later went in the company of Rev Njana and her brother to make part payment.
After this commitment, Rev Njana made sexual advances at her which her friends encouraged her to respond.
Days later, Rev Njana took her to his residence and had sex with her, she narrated.
The sex continued for the third time resulting in the pregnancy after which Rev Njana has refused to pay any attention to her to the extent that he does not pick her phone calls anymore.
She later said Rev Njana compelled her to abort the pregnancy but she refused to do it. She has given birth and the baby is eight-months-old now.
Father Afriyie said the Secretariat will move to conduct an investigation if an official complaint is duly lodged.
Responding to the question on why it has become difficult for many of the Catholic Priests to commit to their celibacy "oath", Father Afriyie said it is never the case that Catholic priests are unable to commit to the celibacy "oath".
He said Catholic Fathers are taken through some forms of training for 14 years adding the training is meant to prepare them for the work ahead.
Rather, he said, in every society there are people who will do their best to go against established rules and regulations.
He explained that the Catholic Conference frowns on priests who have some form of relationship with a woman adding if the case is confirmed to be true, the appropriate sanctions would be applied.
He also said the Secretariat will direct Rev Father Njana to take full responsibility of the child.
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