Ghana tumour girl ignites debate

By Kwaku Sakyi-Addo
BBC News, Accra

Most Ghanaians are religious and there are many different sects

A church has found itself at the centre of a debate between religion and the state in Ghana after a 14-year-old girl with a tumour was taken away from her parents to ensure she receives medical treatment.

Mathias Acquah and his wife Rebecca are unflinching members of the Jesus Christ Apostolic Faith Church in Accra.

Members of the church have no use for doctors and hospitals, because they believe solely in divine healing.

They don't even accept polio immunisation.

Their 14-year-old daughter, Mabel, had not seen a doctor, despite developing a life-threatening tumour which showed up five years ago and is now nearly the size of her head.

The tumour dangles on the back of the girl's neck.

The department of social welfare, backed by the police, has taken custody of Mabel and she is now seeing the doctor.

But state intervention is not backed by all Ghanaians.

Divine healing

Mr and Mrs Acquah were not available for comment, but a member of their congregation, who declined to be identified, said that he would do the same thing as the Acquahs if any of his children were in a similar position.

The church's action - is a violation of the rights of the child Human rights activist Ken Attafuah Do you believe in prayer?

"We only pray for them believing God's word and they get healed so if she was my daughter that is what I would do."

"It works so wonderfully... we are very happy to be practising divine healing."

The Christ Apostolic Faith Church has been around since 1941.

Its elders claim that the congregation has suffered very few deaths in decades.

However, a number of people whose relations belong to the church say that claim is exaggerated.

Protection

Ken Attafuah, a human rights activist, says the authorities have no rights to close down the church but it must act to protect children.

"The church's action in constraining the right of the child to medical attention is a violation of the rights of the child," he says

"That is a matter the state ought to take up to stop the church from engaging in such conduct towards this particular child and towards other children in future."

Authorities at the department of social welfare are now considering how to deal with the long-term relationship between Mabel and her parents.

It seems that when religious faith and the law run into each other on a narrow bridge, it is the law that has the right of way.

Should the law take precedence over religious beliefs - especially when it affects children? Have your say. A selection of your comments appear belows and will be broadcast on the BBC Focus on Africa programme on Saturday 23 April at 1700 GMT.

This debate is now closed. Here is a selection of your comments.

The bible says my people perish because of lack of knowledge. I really don't understand what some pentocostal people think when they hear or read God is your healer. Yes, he is your healer, but the medical doctor was also send for a purpose and i think the law should take precedence over religious beliefs, especially when it affects children and parents refuse to consult medical doctors.
Fhulufhedzani Ramphaga, Windhoek, Namibia

I personally feel that when a minor is involved in a struggle between Church and State, Law should prevail. Take note of several extreme cases associated in the USA: {1} Jonestown, where children were murdered according to the faith of the parent[s]and also[2]Waco, Tx where apparently many parents condoned the idea of death instead of government intervention. Although some, in hindsight, seem to have been held against their will at the stronghold, many were not. If a person chooses to follow their heart into death according to their religous faith, and if they are adults capable of making these types of decisions, so be it. Also take notice of recent science in Child Development: the brain continues to grow and mature until the age of approximately 23 years old, thus, in my opinion, making it far too difficult for minors to understand the consequence of their parent[s] religous philosphy. Children need to be protected at all times...period.
Andrea, New York State \ USA \

I personally think the state have delayed taking custody of the girl.She is a victim.I hope it is not too late to cure her.Her parents are actually lost.If they beleive God's healing they will have let her see the doctor, as all is here for a purpose.I think doctors are sent to heal us so we will live to the time God wants us to live. Children sholud be protected at all times,no matter what it takes.
Jarieu Jalloh, Sierra Leone

Even looking at it from pure religious persipective what has their prayer done in the past five years. The same God gave the interlect to humans to be able to carry out his extraordinary powers such surgey. It would be relagation of the childs right if the government of Ghana refuses to enforce the law and have child see a doctor.
Abdel - Rahman Muhammad, Abuja, Nigeria

God made it possible for us to have doctors. We should therefore, with thanks to God, make good use of any form of medical assistance available to us. Fanaticism will not cure any ailment no matter how devoit one is.
ALI ANANKPIENG, GHANA

Billy Graham of the Evangelical church and the late Pope John Paul II were both seeing medical doctors and have received treatment.
Markos Lemma, Oulu, Finland

How could we Africans not opt for "Western" medecine when our own pastors drive Western Mercedes? I believe it is the highest hypocrisy when those priests can afford to send their offspring overseas from the pockets of parishioners, to get medical degrees while letting parishoners die of mosquito bites and other treatable ailments. Do we really think that, by doing so, Africa will be the next Garden of Eden (paradise)? As far as I am concerned, I think these churches which advocate divine healing haven't done any good to Africa.
Elom, Halifax, Canada

This girl's parents have the right to make whatever choices they deem appropriate in regards to their own bodies. The state should respect that right. Mabel Acquah herself, however, cannot do that as a minor. If a person is too young to make a choice and must have one imposed upon them, I strongly agree that the state should intervene in the interest of saving a child's health and, possibly, life. The wishes of a parent cannot be adhered to if they endanger a child's health.
Elisha Colter, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA

I think this is an extremely difficult issue. On the one hand, I believe that this church in particular is wrong. It is true that God does heal, but people have no right to dictate how He does it, God works through doctors and scientists etc... It is very easy to say that since this church was wrong, the government should be able to intervene. However, the church in question does not think they are wrong, and I am afriad it sets a dangerous precedent to have to government dictating (effectively) what they can believe, or rather how. It doesn't seem like to far of a step for a goverment to say that in its judgement religion (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, etc...) is irrational, many people already say this, and that therefore they have the right to take children away from 'irrational' parents who would do permanent damage to their children with religion. This is already done in some places. It is not so easy an issue as it would seem on the surface. Having harm come to children is bad, but so is having government dictate to and interfere with religion.
James Crocker, St. Andrews, Scotland

Prayer is very potent however if the capacity of your faith does not meet the need, results may be lacking. Nevertheless, prayer and the faith in Jesus Christ to back it would produce amazing results.
Abbdou Tsedey, York, US

If my religion says that it's okay to steal, does that mean I shouldn't be legally punished for it? I'd say give the parents a choice: Either send their child for treatment, or let her die and then go to trial for child neglect and murder.
Rebecca, Philadelphia, USA

Initially I am inclined to side with the church. I am a very devout Libertarian and believe that in situations like this people have the right to make decisions for themselves, even if it may seem completely ridiculous to us on the outside. However, no one has even mentioned what the 14 year old girl wants. At 14, she is old enough to have a deciding say in this. However, all this aside, I would like to offer this thought. Is it possible that this action by the state is the answer to the congregation's prayers (whether they are willing to accept that or not). The people of this young girl's church are praying for her survival; if devine healing is not possible maybe this legal action is God's way of answering their prayers.
Keith LeBlanc, Toronto, Canada

I am a Ghanaian living in the diaspora. I do not understand all these new faiths springing up back home. Most of the new churches and just misleading the folks. Africans had their own religion before the advent of christianity. Dont allow yourselves to be misled by false doctrines
Eric Wornyo, Atlanta, Georgia