A five-year-old girl has died following a violent altercation between her parents at Mim in the Asunafo North Municipality of the Ahafo Region.
The deceased, identified as Elizabeth, was a pupil at Mim M/A Basic School.
According to residents, domestic violence was reportedly frequent in the household, with the couple often engaging in heated arguments over marital issues. The parents were also alleged to have repeatedly assaulted the child.
“They have been fighting almost every day and repeatedly assaulting the girl for no wrongdoing,” a resident said.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening when another quarrel reportedly turned violent.
Witnesses allege that during the confrontation, the father grabbed the child by the neck, slapped her several times and threw her towards the mother.
The mother reportedly dodged, causing the child to fall heavily to the ground.
The impact left the girl seriously injured, with blood coming from her nose and mouth.
Speaking to reporters on Monday morning, the mother said she rushed the child to Life-Care Hospital in Mim for medical attention. However, she alleged that staff at the facility refused to treat them because of the severity of the bleeding.
The child died shortly afterwards.
Police picked up both parents following the incident. After preliminary questioning, the mother was reportedly allowed to return home, while the father remains in police custody assisting with investigations.
Meanwhile, the Ahafo Regional Police Command has commenced investigations into the alleged refusal by the hospital to provide medical care to the child and her mother.