Tension has gripped the Salaga Municipal Hospital in the Savannah Region after a newborn baby girl reportedly went missing shortly after delivery, prompting police to detain a nurse as investigations intensify.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, has left the family of the infant demanding answers and insisting that the detained nurse should not be granted bail until the baby is found.

Family raises alarm after baby disappears

According to relatives of the child’s father, Kofi Simon, the baby’s mother, Priscilla, was admitted in labour around 3:00 a.m. and successfully delivered a baby girl between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

A family member, Balik Majik Ebenezer, said hospital staff initially confirmed that both mother and baby were in good condition after delivery.

However, he explained that concerns arose when the family was allegedly prevented from seeing the newborn despite repeated requests.

“According to the husband, they said the woman delivered successfully and it was a baby girl… but the nurses did not allow them to see the child,” he said.

Baby reportedly missing from maternity ward

Ebenezer said the situation escalated when the mother was later moved to the ward without the baby.

He recounted that when the family inquired, they were informed that the child was not in the maternity ward, sparking panic and confusion.

“When they brought the lady to the ward, the child was not there… she went back to check and the baby was nowhere to be found,” he said.

According to him, a nurse initially suggested that she thought the mother had taken the baby out for breastfeeding, but later confirmed the child could not be located.

Police detain nurse as investigation begins

The matter was reported to the Salaga Police Station, leading to the detention of a nurse who was on duty at the time.

Police say investigations are ongoing, although no breakthrough has been made so far.

The family has strongly opposed attempts by colleagues of the detained nurse to secure her bail, insisting that the baby must first be found.

“They want to bail their colleague, but the child has still not been found,” Ebenezer said. “We believe until we see our child, the nurse should not be granted bail.”

Police probe underway

Security officials are reported to have begun investigations, including efforts to trace possible movements linked to the missing child. However, the whereabouts of the newborn remain unknown at the time of filing this report.

The case has heightened anxiety in the hospital and surrounding community as authorities work to establish what happened to the baby after delivery.