An Accra Family Court has been asked to strip a Cameroonian Catholic priest of his diplomatic immunity after he was sued for denying paternity to an 8-month old baby.

The lawyer for Josephine Ganyoame, 24, and student of the University of Professional Studies (UPSA) has filed a writ to be served on the Foreign Affairs ministry demanding that Yves-Lucien Evaga Njana’s immunity be waived.

At a preliminary hearing at the Family Court A in camera on Wednesday, lawyer Francis Sosu explained that given the keen public interest in the case, especially from the Catholic community, he is hopeful that the immunity will be waived.

“I believe it is a case in which everybody, including all the Catholic bishops in this country, will be interested in waiving the immunity for the man to be subject to the jurisdiction of the court so that we will know the truth of the matter,” he told Joy News’ Kwetey Nartey.

Francis Sosu

The plaintiff, Josephine Ganyoame has filed a suit accusing Rev Fr Yves-Lucien Evaga Njana of neglecting an eight-month-old child he allegedly fathered.

In the April 7 suit, the plaintiff wants a declaration that the respondent’s irresponsibility breaches the rights of the child to a name, basic necessities of life, welfare and social protection.

Josephine Ganyoame is further praying the court to direct the Reverend Father to subject himself to a paternity test in order to establish whether he is the biological father of the child, among other reliefs.

The court has adjourned the case to May 10 within which time the processing for the waiving of immunity would have been determined. Lawyer Francis Sosu hopes that within the three-week adjournment, the stakeholders in the case will “work very fast”.