Bawku (U/E), August 1, GNA - Premises of the Bawku Magistrate court on Tuesday witnessed a drama between an estranged couple over who should take custody of their two children. The court had sat in camera and granted the children, a boy and girl aged 13 and 10 respectively, to the father. The children, who were unhappy with the verdict of the court, were unwilling to accompany their father home and began to cry. The mother's attempt to console her children was met with two hefty slaps from the father in the full glare of the public, including family members.

Mpoka Anane told the GNA that she got married to Emmanuel Awini Ndebugri, a carpenter, about 16 years ago at Bawku and gave birth to two children but they died. She said soon afterwards, her husband asked her to leave her matrimonial home, accusing her of being the cause of the deaths of the children. Mpoka said upon arrival at her father's house, she realized she was pregnant and after she had delivered a boy the husband called her back. She said three years later, the husband again asked her to the leave the house and so she left with the child for her brother's house at Kuka, near Bugri, where she realized she was again pregnant. Her husband was informed of her condition but he did not remit her.

Mpoka said with the help of her sister-in-law, she secured a job at a bakery at Bawku and was able to cater for herself and the child. She was advised to stay away from the heat of the oven and she went back to the brother's place who advised her to send the male child to the father. She left Bawku for Offinso in the Ashanti Region after delivering the second child and engaged in farming to cater for the children and got married after four years.

In May of last year, her estranged husband caused the arrest of her brother for helping her to run away with their children. Mpoka said when she was informed, she went to Bawku and suggested to the estranged husband that he should take the male child whilst she took the female child but he refused. The husband filed a complaint at the court and it was decided that he could only take custody of the male child since the female child was below age 10. Mpoka said her estranged husband failed to remit the child, till she was called down to Bawku this year that it was time for the court to hand over the child to the father.