A pastor who was cleared of a defilement charges by the court is now making moves to adopt the child the teenage mother claims resulted from the alleged act.Pastor Renald Yeboah will not admit to having sex with the girl but says he wants to take care of the baby on humanitarian grounds. He now has to contend with the anger of 16 year-old Matina Afriyie and her relatives. The girl says the incident, which happened about a year ago, has ruined her life. Afia Akyere reports.

This is the voice of Matina Afriyie who was 15 years old when she says a pastor forcibly had sex with her resulting in pregnancy. Now she is 16 and the mother of a four month old baby girl.

Pastor Yeboah was charged with defilement and the case was heard at HIgh court one in Kumasi. He was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. He appealed against the ruling and won. Madam Sarah Oduro, the mother of the teenager, was not happy about the ruling.

When Luv news interviewed Pastor Yeboah he said he sent a delegation comprising his father and some church members to try and resolve issues with the girl’s mother. This out of court settlement did not work. I asked him if he accepts the baby as his own and this is the explanation he gave.

Pastor Yeboah told Luv News he wants to meet with the girl’s family to resolve the issue. Madam Oduro has agreed to meet with the pastor for redress. She wants re-imbursement of the money she has spent on her daughter’s upkeep before and after she gave birth. She also wants to see her back in school.

Meanwhile, Matina Afriyie continues to take care of her baby.