Mamprobi baby theft case: Court grants accused GH¢200,000 bail

A Circuit Court in Accra has granted GH¢200,000 bail to a 33-year-old trader accused of stealing a four-day-old baby boy from Mamprobi Hospital.

Latifa Salifu, charged with child stealing, pleaded not guilty after prosecutors presented amended facts. The court, presided over by Annette Sophia Essel, adjourned the case to 8 April 2026.

Under the bail terms, Salifu must provide two sureties, with one able to justify with landed property valued at GH¢150,000. She is also to report to the investigator every Monday and Thursday and deposit her travel documents with the court registry.

Prosecutors said investigations are complete and did not oppose bail, but asked for tight conditions to ensure the accused remains available to the court. Defence counsel, Dr Hamisu Muhammed, argued that the accused has strong local ties and is not a flight risk, urging the court not to make bail conditions punitive.

The prosecution told the court that the complainant, Precious Ankomah, delivered by caesarean section at Mamprobi Hospital on 14 February 2026 and stayed with the baby in the recovery ward.

Tests later indicated the newborn had jaundice and a transfer to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital was planned, prosecutors said. The mother was discharged but remained at the facility after being unable to settle her medical bills.

Police allege that in the early hours of 17 February, Salifu, dressed in peach-coloured nurse-like scrubs, approached the mother and later returned around 07:00, taking the baby on the claim she was administering medication.

When staff on the morning shift arrived, the child was missing and a search failed to locate him, prompting a report to police.

Investigators said the following day the accused contacted a whistleblower with a story about delivering at Korle Bu but being discharged for lack of beds. The whistleblower alerted police, leading to her arrest.

Prosecutors told the court that Salifu admitted the offence in a caution statement.