Mamprobi Polyclinic Child Stealing Suspect Admitted to GHc200k Bail
The DOVVSU Circuit Court has admitted a 33-year-old trader, Latifa Salifu, to bail in the sum of GH¢200,000 after she was arraigned on a charge of child stealing.
The court ordered that she provide two sureties, one of whom must justify with landed property worth at least GH¢150,000. Both sureties are to deposit their Ghana Cards at the court registry. Additionally, the accused has been directed to hand over all travel documents and report to the assigned investigator every Monday and Thursday at 1:00 p.m. until the court rules otherwise.
Salifu entered a plea of not guilty to the single count.
Presenting an amended charge sheet, Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei informed the court that investigations had been concluded, replacing the earlier provisional charge. The previous charge sheet was subsequently struck out before the court proceeded to take the accused’s plea on the revised charge.
Counsel for the accused, Dr. Hamisu Muhammad, urged the court to grant bail, submitting that his client had cooperated fully with law enforcement since her arrest on February 17, 2026. He maintained that she has a permanent residence, is engaged in legitimate business as a clothes trader, and poses no flight risk.
The prosecution did not object to bail but requested stringent conditions to guarantee her appearance during trial, including a requirement for property-backed justification.
Background
According to the prosecution, the complainant, Precious Ankomah, 29, gave birth via caesarean section at Mamprobi Polyclinic on February 14, 2026. She was admitted to the recovery ward alongside her newborn.
Two days later, medical tests allegedly indicated that the baby had developed jaundice and required referral to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for specialist care. Although the mother had been discharged, she reportedly remained at the facility due to outstanding medical bills and was moved to an upstairs recovery room.
Prosecutors told the court that in the early hours of February 17, at about 4:00 a.m., the accused—allegedly dressed in peach-coloured nurses’ scrubs—approached the complainant’s bedside, observed her and the infant, and left. Around 7:00 a.m., she is said to have returned and taken the baby, claiming she needed to administer medication. The child was not brought back.
During a shift change later that morning, hospital staff discovered the infant was missing. An internal search proved unsuccessful, prompting a report to the Police.
The prosecution further stated that the accused was later apprehended after allegedly contacting an individual and claiming she had delivered a baby at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, but had been discharged due to bed shortages. She was subsequently re-arrested and detained as investigations continued.
While she initially denied the allegation in a cautioned statement, prosecutors say she later admitted to the offence during further questioning.
The matter has been adjourned to April 8, 2026, for further hearing.