The Circuit Court in Accra has remanded a 33-year-old trader, Latifa Salifu, into police custody until March 4, 2026, after being arraigned on a provisional charge of stealing a baby.
Her plea on the provisional charge of Stealing has not been taken as investigations are still ongoing.
Prosecutors are suspecting the matter could not go beyond actions of syndicates wondering why a woman with boys will get herself involved in an action of that nature.
Latifa Salifu was arrested on Wednesday by the police after she is alleged to have stolen a baby at the Mamptobi Hospital.
In Court on Friday, February 20, 2026, the prosecution was led by Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei, who told the Circuit Court that the Police have charged the accused but the case is still under investigation.
According to him, the accused has been served with the provisional charge they have made against her, and they want the accused to be remanded to allow them to complete their investigations.
Bail Application
Defence lawyer, Hamisu Muhammad, made an oral application for bail, pleading with the court to grant her bail.
Counsel submitted that the accused is not a flight risk and has never brushed the law, adding, that his client has two children (boys), 7 and 10 years old.
He said the accused would not interfere with Police and witness investigations.
Counsel explained that because she does not have resources to interfere and that she does not have the resources to abscond, there are men who are ready to stand in as sureties.
Opposition
The Prosecution opposed the submission for bail and argued that they believe the offence has been committed, was not only engineered by the accused person but believe it’s a syndicate.
There is no sense that the accused, who has children who are boys, will still go to the hospital to steal a boy.
They want the accused remanded to help with investigations. By the next court date, they would have completed investigations.
Rebuttal
The Defence pointed to Article 19 of the Constitution, which is clear that an accused is innocent until proven guilty.
In the spirit of a fair trial, the accused should be admitted to bail.
The accused will make herself available anytime the court invites her and that their story is entirely different.
The Court, presided over by His Honour, K K Obiri-Yeboah, after hearing the prosecution and defence, said the case is still under investigation. The accused should be remanded into Police custody.
Brief facts
Per the brief facts, the Complainant is Abigail Gudjina, the Unit Head of Mamprobi Hospital theatre recovery ward, while the Accused person, Latifa Salifu, aged 33, is a trader and resides in Tony Park, a suburb of Dansoman.
The prosecution said on February 14, 2026, the victim, aged 29, delivered a baby boy at the aforementioned hospital through a caesarean section.
The baby was diagnosed with jaundice, so the victim was informed that she (the victim) would be referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
Sequence of events
It said on February 17, 2026, about 0400 hours, while at the recovery ward, a woman dressed in a peach-colour scrub uniform posed as a nurse, came to the victim’s bed, looked at the baby and the victim, and left.
That same day, about 0600 hours, the accused went to the victim under the pretext of going to administer medicine to the baby.
In about 10 minutes, a nurse went to the victim and asked about the baby. The victim informed the nurse that the accused had come for the baby, and the victim described the accused to the nurse.
The nurses on duty combed the hospital but did not see the accused, and about 0820 hours, the complainant lodged a complaint with the Mamprobi Police.
On February 18, 2026, at 0340 hours, a whistle-blower informed the Dansoman Police that the accused was seen with the baby at 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.
The accused, in her Police caution statement, admitted the offence and stated that she went to pick up the baby from the victim under the pretext of administering medicine to her and bolted with the baby.
Investigation is still ongoing.
Source :www.kumasimail.com
