
Two midwives from the East Gonja District Hospital, popularly known as Salaga Hospital, have been remanded in police custody by a Tamale Circuit Court following the disappearance of a newborn baby. The accused, 52-year-old Frank Atanga and 32-year-old Mariam Mohammed, are facing charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, specifically the stealing of a child, and abduction. During their appearance in court on June 10, 2026, both health professionals pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case has been adjourned to June 18, 2026, as police continue their investigation into the circumstances that led to the infant going missing from the facility.
The incident has sparked significant distress for the family of the missing child and raised serious questions regarding security protocols at the hospital. Gabugya Simon, the father of the newborn, expressed his profound disbelief and heartbreak, noting that the hospital staff failed to report the disappearance immediately after the birth. The Savannah Regional Health Directorate has officially described the situation as unfortunate and confirmed they are cooperating fully with the Ghana Police Service. Health officials have also made a public appeal, urging anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the baby to come forward to assist in the recovery efforts.
In a related development, the Gender-Based Violence Court in Accra has issued a final ultimatum to the prosecution in a separate baby theft case involving Mamprobi Hospital. The court presided over by the judge granted the prosecution one last opportunity to file their disclosure documents in the case against Latifa Salifu, who is accused of stealing a child. The trial has faced delays due to difficulties in obtaining signatures from witnesses. In this instance, the complainant, Precious Ankomah, alleged that a woman posing as a nurse took her baby shortly after delivery, a claim that highlights a terrifying trend of impersonation within clinical settings.
These two high-profile cases have renewed national debates regarding the safety of maternity wards across Ghana. While the Mamprobi case is scheduled to continue on July 8, 2026, the immediate focus remains on the Salaga investigation where the health directorate and the police are under pressure to provide answers. The recurring nature of these incidents underscores a pressing need for improved surveillance and more stringent access controls in hospitals to protect newborns and provide peace of mind to expectant parents. The outcome of these legal proceedings is expected to set a precedent for how negligence and criminal activity by healthcare workers are handled in the future.
This story touches markets covered on Anansi Intelligence ↗.
Continue exploring similar stories