Two midwives remanded over disappearance of newborn from Salaga hospital
Two midwives from the East Gonja District Hospital in Salaga have been remanded into police custody as investigations intensify into the disappearance of a newborn baby from the facility.
Two midwives from the East Gonja District Hospital in Salaga have been remanded into police custody as investigations intensify into the disappearance of a newborn baby from the facility.
The suspects, Frank Atanga, 52, and Mariam Mohammed, 32, appeared before the Tamale Circuit Court on charges of conspiracy to steal and abduction in connection with the incident.
Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Presiding judge Her Honour Afua Srakuba ordered that the pair be held in police custody for one week and adjourned the case to June 18, 2026.
The court proceedings mark a significant development in the investigation into the disappearance of the infant, who reportedly went missing from the East Gonja District Hospital on June 10.
The case has sparked concern in the Savannah Region, with police and health authorities working to establish the circumstances under which the baby vanished from the healthcare facility.
In a statement, the Savannah Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service described the incident as "unfortunate and disturbing", revealing that hospital authorities launched an immediate search after the disappearance was reported.
However, efforts to locate the newborn within the facility proved unsuccessful.
The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John Ekow Otoo, said the Directorate was collaborating closely with hospital management, security personnel and the Ghana Police Service to determine what happened and secure the safe return of the child.
"Our priority remains finding the baby and supporting the family through this difficult period," the statement said.
The Directorate also expressed sympathy to the affected family and assured them of its continued support as investigations continue.
Health authorities have appealed to members of the public with information that could assist in tracing the newborn to contact the nearest police station, the Regional Health Directorate or hospital management.
They further assured the public that any information received would be handled with strict confidentiality.
The disappearance of the baby has heightened public concern about security measures at health facilities, as investigators work to unravel one of the region's most troubling cases in recent years.