Mamprobi Polyclinic ‘baby thief’ granted GH¢200k bail
The DOVVSU Circuit Court has granted bail in the sum of GH¢200,000 to 33-year-old trader Latifa Salifu, who is facing a charge of child stealing.
As part of the bail conditions, she is to provide two sureties, one of whom must justify with landed property valued at GH¢150,000. Both sureties are required to deposit their Ghana Cards with the Court Registry, while the accused must hand over all her travel documents. She has also been directed to report to the case investigator every Monday and Thursday at 1:00 p.m. until the court orders otherwise.
Latifa Salifu pleaded not guilty to a single count of child stealing.
Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei informed the court that investigations had been concluded and an amended charge sheet filed to replace the earlier provisional charge. The court subsequently struck out the previous charge sheet and took the plea of the accused based on the revised charge.
Defence counsel, Dr Hamisu Muhammad, applied for bail, stating that his client had cooperated fully with the Police since her arrest on February 17, 2026. He argued that she has a permanent residence, is engaged in legitimate work as a clothes trader, and poses no flight risk.
Although the prosecution did not oppose the bail request, it asked the court to impose strict conditions, including justification with landed property, to guarantee her attendance throughout the trial.
The prosecution told the court that the complainant, 29-year-old trader Precious Ankomah, delivered a baby through a caesarean section at Mamprobi Polyclinic on February 14, 2026, and was admitted to the theatre recovery ward with the child.
Two days later, laboratory tests reportedly revealed that the baby had jaundice and required referral to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for further care. Although the complainant had been discharged, she remained at the facility because she could not settle her medical bills and was later moved to an upstairs recovery room.
According to the prosecution, at about 4:00 a.m. on February 17, the accused, dressed in peach-coloured nurses’ scrubs, approached the complainant’s bedside, looked at her and the baby, and left. Around 7:00 a.m. the same morning, she allegedly returned and took the baby under the pretext of administering medication but did not bring the child back.
During the nurses’ morning shift handover, staff discovered the baby was missing. A search was conducted within the hospital, but the accused could not be located, prompting a formal report to the Police.
The court further heard that the accused was later arrested after she allegedly contacted a whistleblower, claiming she had delivered at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital but had been discharged due to a shortage of beds. She was subsequently re-arrested and detained for further investigations.
While she initially denied the allegation in her cautioned statement, the prosecution said she later admitted the offence during subsequent investigations.
The case has been adjourned to April 8, 2026, for further hearing.
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