Anglican priest apologises for kissing students in viral video

Anglican priest Obeng Larbi kisses student in Ghana

A priest in the Anglican Communion in Ghana Obeng Larbi has apologised to the three students of St. Monica College in Ashanti area whom he kissed recently on the pulpit.

He also apologised to the students’ families, the church and the general public.

In a statement, he said the students are in their third year, getting set for off-campus teaching practice. He said he tried to give a “human touch” to the students’ “extraordinary performance”.

The priest also requested prayers from the public at this trying time of his life.

“I’m sincerely sorry for my actions in the video,” Larbi said.

“I seem to have taken a number of things for granted. I did not think my behaviour was proper and I admit that the act and the place it happened was wrong even if there was no Covid-19.”

Larbi had forced one of the students to remove her face mask so he could kiss her in the mouth.

The church had earlier stated its disappointment at the clergyman’s behaviour.

It suspended the priest from the college as chaplain pending investigations and recommendations from a committee set up to probe the incident.

The female students will also receive counselling to avoid trauma, the church said.