The Police Ghana have arrested the father of a three-year-old girl who sustained severe injuries after her stepmother allegedly poured boiling water on her, in what police say was punishment for bedwetting.

The incident occurred in Winneba, a coastal town in the Central Region, where the child had been sent to spend the holidays with her father. The Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service confirmed the arrest of the father on Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation.

The stepmother, identified only as Akaima, a Liberian national, remains at large. Police have launched a search for her in connection with the assault.

Medical officials at the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba said the child suffered critical injuries to her lower body and will require multiple complex surgical procedures to reconstruct her reproductive system. The hospital has not released further details regarding her condition.

The case has drawn attention from child advocacy groups, including Challenging Heights, a Ghana-based NGO focused on child protection. The organization’s Mother and Child Rescue Unit has offered to cover the victim’s medical expenses and is calling for a full-scale investigation and prosecution of those involved.

“This is a deeply disturbing case that highlights ongoing challenges in child protection enforcement,” said a spokesperson for Challenging Heights. “We are demanding justice for the victim and stronger safeguards for children in domestic settings.”

DOVVSU officials at the Winneba Divisional Command acknowledged a concerning rise in domestic abuse cases in the region. “We are intensifying public education and working closely with stakeholders to address the growing trend of domestic violence,” a DOVVSU representative said.

The father remains in custody as law enforcement continues to gather evidence and track the suspect. Authorities have not indicated when formal charges will be filed.