BY Grace Zigah
The ongoing Mamprobi baby theft case reached a new stage on Monday, March 2, 2026, as the DOVVSU Circuit Court granted GH¢200,000 bail to 33-year-old trader Latifa Salifu, who has been charged with allegedly stealing a newborn from Mamprobi Polyclinic in Accra.
The court set stringent conditions for her release, including the provision of 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.
Additionally, Salifu must surrender all her travel documents and report to the investigating officer every Monday and Thursday at 1:00 p.m. until further notice from the court. She pleaded not guilty to the amended charge of child stealing.
During proceedings, Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei informed the court that investigations had been completed, prompting the court to strike out the previous provisional charge and accept a new, amended charge sheet.
Counsel for the accused, Dr. Hamisu Muhammad, argued that Salifu had cooperated fully with police since her arrest on February 17, 2026, maintained a fixed place of residence, and was engaged in lawful trade as a clothes dealer, emphasizing that she was not a flight risk.
Although the prosecution did not oppose bail, it requested that strict conditions be imposed to ensure the suspect’s presence throughout the trial.
According to court records, the complainant, Precious Ankomah, delivered a baby boy via caesarean section at Mamprobi Polyclinic on February 14, 2026. On February 17 at approximately 7:00 a.m., the prosecution alleges that Salifu, disguised as a nurse, entered the postnatal ward under the pretense of administering medication and took the baby without returning him. This prompted an immediate search and subsequent investigations by the Ghana Police Service, culminating in her arrest.
The infant was later found to be suffering from jaundice and was scheduled for referral to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for further medical attention. The baby has since been reunited with his mother following the police-led recovery operation, which drew nationwide attention.
The case has attracted significant public and media scrutiny, not only because of the alleged crime itself but also due to the underlying issues of hospital security and staff accountability.
Officials from the Ghana Health Service have admitted that lapses in identification protocols contributed to the success of the theft and have since mandated stricter uniform and ID tag enforcement, enhanced ward supervision, and improved surveillance systems across healthcare facilities nationwide.
The bail ruling now allows the suspect to remain out of custody under strict monitoring while police investigations and preparatory court proceedings continue.
