Madonna has blessing of baby’s father

THE biological father of the 13-month-old boy Madonna wants to make part of her family yesterday criticised human rights groups who have challenged how the adoption is being handled and said his child should stay with the star.

Yohane Banda said he had entrusted his son to a Malawian orphanage after his wife died of childbirth complications, saying he was too poor to raise him alone.

Now, he says, Madonna has given the boy a chance to have a family.

“Where were these people when David was struggling in the orphanage? These so-called human rights groups should leave my baby alone,” he said.

“As father I have okayed this, I have no problem. The village has no problem. Who are they to cause trouble? Please let them stop.”

The Human Rights Consultative Committee, a coalition of 67 organisations, launched a legal challenge this week, noting that Malawian regulations require prospective parents to stay with a child in Malawi for 18-24 months for assessment before the adoption is formalised.

Madonna, though, was allowed to take the boy to England, where she has a home, and Malawian officials have said the family would be monitored there.

Children’s advocates in Malawi have stressed they are not opposed to Madonna adopting David, but want to ensure rules meant to protect children aren’t ignored.

Madonna, rejecting the criticism of recent days, said in a statement: “We have gone about the adoption procedure according to the law like anyone else who adopts a child. Reports to the contrary are totally inaccurate.”

The boy’s father countersigned the papers and High Court Justice Andrew Nyirenda issued the celebrity couple an “interim order” allowing them custody.

The boy was flown to London on Monday.