Two Midwives Remanded Over Alleged Baby Theft at Salaga Hospital
Two midwives at the East Gonja District Hospital in Salaga have been remanded into police custody by the Tamale Circuit Court over their alleged involvement in the disappearance of a newborn from the facility, a case that has shaken public confidence in the safety of maternity care in the Savannah Region.
The accused, Frank Atanga, 52, and Mariam Mohammed, 32, appeared before Her Honour Afua Srakuba on charges of conspiracy to steal and abduction. Both pleaded not guilty. The court ordered their remand for one week and adjourned the case to June 18, 2026, for further hearing.
A Disturbing Pattern
The development follows a deeply troubling incident in which a newborn reportedly went missing from the hospital on June 10, 2026. The Ghana Police Service is continuing its investigations into the suspected abduction.
This is not the first time Salaga Hospital has made headlines for the wrong reasons. The Savannah Regional Health Directorate previously confirmed the incident, describing it as “unfortunate and disturbing” and noting that immediate efforts to locate the baby within the hospital premises had yielded no results. That earlier account, reported in the confirmation of a missing newborn at the same facility, laid the groundwork for the criminal proceedings now unfolding in court.
Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John Ekow Otoo, said the Directorate is working closely with hospital management, security personnel and the Ghana Police Service to establish the circumstances surrounding the disappearance. He assured the public that the Health Service remains committed to supporting the affected family as investigations continue.
Public Appeal
The Directorate has appealed to the public for any information that could assist in locating the missing baby, urging individuals to report to the nearest police station or relevant authorities. It assured that all information provided will be treated with strict confidentiality as security agencies intensify efforts to trace the child.
The case has reignited debate about security protocols in maternity wards across Ghana, particularly in rural and peri-urban facilities where surveillance systems are often inadequate. For families placing their most vulnerable members in the care of health professionals, the allegation that midwives may have been complicit in a newborn’s disappearance strikes at the very foundation of trust that underpins the patient-provider relationship.
As the legal process unfolds, the incident serves as a stark reminder that safeguarding newborns requires not only clinical competence but also robust institutional safeguards and accountability mechanisms within healthcare facilities.
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