By Joyce Danso
Accra, Feb. 20, GNA – A Circuit Court at the Police Headquarters has remanded Latifa Salifu, a trader accused of stealing a four-day-old baby at Mamprobi Hospital, into police custody pending further investigations.
The court did not take the accused person’s plea after the prosecution indicated that investigations were ongoing.
Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, leading the prosecution, told the court that the offence appeared to involve more than one person, suggesting a possible syndicate.
Latifa Salifu, 33, has been provisionally charged with child stealing and is expected to reappear before the court on March 4, 2026.
The prosecution opposed a bail application by defence counsel, Dr Hamisu Muhammed, arguing that the police required the accused in custody to assist with ongoing investigations.
The prosecutor said investigations were expected to be completed by the next adjourned date, after which the court could consider a renewed bail request.
Dr Muhammed prayed the court to grant bail, arguing that all offences were bailable at the court’s discretion.
He told the court that his client had cooperated fully with the police, had a fixed place of abode in Accra, and strong family ties, including her husband and two children aged seven and nine.
He also maintained that the accused was not a flight risk and had no prior criminal record.
According to the facts presented, the complainant, Madam Abigail Gudjinu, Unit Head of the Theatre Recovery Ward at Mamprobi Hospital, reported that the incident occurred on February 17, 2026.
The victim, Precious Ankomah, 29, had delivered a baby boy through caesarean section on February 14.
The baby was later diagnosed with jaundice and was to be referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
At about 0400 hours on February 17, a woman dressed in a peach-coloured scrub uniform, posing as a nurse, visited the victim’s bedside and left after observing the baby.
At about 0600 hours the same day, the accused allegedly returned under the pretext of administering medication and took the baby away.
About 10 minutes later, a nurse on duty enquired about the baby, prompting a search within the facility, but the suspect could not be found.
The matter was reported to the Mamprobi Police at about 0820 hours.
On February 18 at about 0340 hours, a whistleblower informed the Dansoman Police that the accused had been spotted with a baby at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
A police patrol team arrested her and retrieved the baby.
In her caution statement, the accused admitted taking the baby under the pretext of administering medication and fleeing with him.
Investigations are ongoing.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe