A father is in police custody following the death of his five-year-old daughter in an alleged domestic violence incident at Mim in the Asunafo North Municipality of the Ahafo Region.
The father was arrested after the incident and is assisting the police with investigations. The child's mother, who was also picked up for questioning, was reportedly released after preliminary questioning.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening, November 8, 2026, following a disagreement between the child's parents which allegedly resulted in violence.
According to witness accounts cited in media reports, the father allegedly assaulted the girl and threw her towards her mother. The mother reportedly moved out of the way, causing the child to fall heavily to the ground.
The girl, a pupil of Mim M/A Basic School, died shortly afterwards.
The police have not announced any formal charges against the father.
Police investigate alleged hospital refusal
Meanwhile, the Ahafo Regional Police Command has opened a separate investigation into an allegation that a health facility at Mim refused to provide emergency medical attention to the injured girl.
The child's mother alleged that she rushed her daughter to Life-Care Hospital at Mim but staff at the facility declined to attend to them because of the severity of the child's condition.
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has acknowledged the allegation and called on the relevant health regulatory authorities to investigate the circumstances.
The Ministry stated that every child experiencing a medical emergency was entitled to immediate, life-saving care and that any failure to provide such assistance must be addressed.
Ministry to assess safety of other children
In a statement dated November 10, 2026, the Ministry condemned the child's death and called for a thorough and speedy investigation into the incident.
It said the Department of Social Welfare and the Domestic Violence Secretariat were working with the police and the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) to follow up on the case.
The Ministry said social welfare officers would be deployed to the Asunafo North Municipality to provide psychosocial support to the bereaved family and assess the safety and well-being of other children in the household.
It added that plans were underway to work with the Municipal Assembly, the Ghana Education Service and community leaders in Mim to provide counselling support where necessary.
The Ministry said violence against children, particularly within the home, should not be treated as a private family matter.
It cited the Children's Act, 1998 (Act 560), the Domestic Violence Act, 2007 (Act 732) and the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), stating that anyone found culpable should be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Public urged to report child abuse
The Ministry has appealed to teachers, religious and traditional leaders, and members of the public to report suspected cases of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.
It urged anyone who suspects that a child is being abused to contact the nearest police station, DOVVSU office or Social Welfare Department.
