Ghana Health Service Sets Up Seven-Member Probe After Newborn Goes Missing at Salaga Hospital

The Savannah Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has established a seven-member committee to investigate the disappearance of a newborn baby from the East Gonja Municipal Hospital in Salaga. The incident, which occurred on June 10, 2026, has sparked significant concern regarding hospital security and professional ethics. Dr. John Ekow Otoo, the Regional Director of Health Services, commissioned the inquiry to uncover the circumstances surrounding the infant's disappearance and to ensure accountability within the regional health system. Legal proceedings have already commenced against those allegedly involved. Two midwives assigned to the hospital have been arrested and arraigned before the Tamale High Court on charges of conspiracy to steal and abduction. Although the accused have pleaded not guilty, the GHS has taken swift administrative action by interdicting the health workers responsible for the infant's care at the time of the incident. These staff members are currently facing both internal disciplinary reviews and external criminal prosecution as the search for the missing child intensifies. The mandate of the newly formed investigative committee extends beyond identifying individual culpability. Under the direction of Dr. Otoo, the group is tasked with identifying procedural lapses that allowed the disappearance to occur and proposing robust preventive measures to safeguard patients in the future. Furthermore, the GHS has placed health facilities across the country on high alert, instructing staff to monitor for any suspicious mother-and-baby pairs that may be connected to the Salaga case. Amidst the ongoing investigation, the Regional Health Directorate has prioritized the welfare of the affected family by providing professional counseling services to help them navigate the trauma of their loss. The GHS continues to collaborate closely with the Ghana Police Service and has issued a public appeal for any information that could lead to the recovery of the baby. This case underscores a critical commitment by the GHS to maintain high standards of healthcare delivery and security, ensuring that such a breach of trust does not recur.