Latifa Salifu remanded over stolen baby

The 33-year-old trader who allegedly stole a four-day-old baby at the Mamprobi Hospital in Accra has been remanded by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) Court in Accra. 

Latifa Salifu, who is a mother of two, has been charged with one count of child stealing by the court, presided over by K. K. Obiri Yeboah. 
She, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when she made her first appearance at the specialised court yesterday.

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, told the court that the case was still under investigation and prayed for the accused person to be remanded.

The prosecutor said it did not make sense that the accused, who had children, who are boys, would still go to the hospital to steal a boy.

“We want the accused remanded to help with investigations,” the prosecutor said.

However, counsel for the accused, Hamisu Muhammad, pleaded with the court to grant the accused person bail, arguing that Salifu was not a flight risk and had never had a brush with the law.

“My client will not interfere with police investigations and witnesses because she does not have the resources to interfere and does not have the resources to abscond,” counsel said in his submission for bail.  

He added that his client had men who were ready to stand in as sureties.

However, the prayer for bail was opposed by the prosecution, who added that police believed the alleged baby stealing was orchestrated by a syndicate.

The judge sided with the prosecution and remanded the accused to reappear on March 4 this year. 

Prosecution’s case

Narrating the facts of the case, the prosecutor, Chief Inspector (C/Insp) Aniagyei, said on February 14, this year, the mother of the four-day-old delivered at the hospital through a caesarean section.

He added that the baby was referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for further treatment.

On February 17, 2026, while at the recovery ward, the prosecutor said a woman dressed in a peach-coloured scrub uniform posing as a nurse came to the victim’s bed, looked at the baby and the victim and left.

That same day, around 4 p.m, the accused went to the victim and took possession of the baby under the pretext of administering medicine for the baby.

About 10 minutes later, C/Insp Aniagyei said a nurse went to the victim and asked about the baby, but the victim informed the nurse that the accused had come for the baby, and the victim described the accused to the nurse.

He added that the nurses on duty combed the hospital, but did not see the accused.

A complaint was then lodged with the Mamprobi Police.

Last Wednesday, a whistleblower informed the Dansoman Police that the accused was seen with the baby at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

“With the help of the Dansoman Police patrol team, the accused was arrested and brought to the Police Station, together with the baby.

“Accused in her police further investigation, cautioned statement admitted the offence and stated that she went to pick up the baby from the victim under the pretext of administering medicine for her and bolted with the baby,” the prosecutor told the court.