The Upper West Regional Police Command has arrested a 38-year-old woman, Abena Martha Maanibeh, for allegedly abducting a week-old baby boy and stealing personal belongings of the child’s mother.
In a statement signed by the Regional Police Commander, DCOP Darko Offei Lomotey, the suspect was reported to have posed as a patient’s caretaker at the Wa Regional Hospital, where the baby’s mother, Ms. Kwofie Mwinbelle, had delivered her child on August 1, 2025.
According to police investigations, on August 10, 2025, the suspect convinced Ms. Mwinbelle to accompany her to the Wa Market under the pretense of helping her purchase diapers and baby essentials. Once at the market, Maanibeh allegedly disappeared with the newborn and the mother’s handbag, which contained cash, a mobile phone, and other valuables.
The incident triggered swift action by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), which launched a search operation across the region. Acting on intelligence, officers arrested the suspect on August 15, 2025, at her hideout in Nuobille Community in the Savannah Region. The baby was rescued unharmed and safely reunited with his mother.
“The suspect was arraigned before the Wa District Magistrate Court on Monday, August 18, 2025, and has since been remanded into custody to reappear on September 2, 2025.”
The arrest has been welcomed by residents of Wa, many of whom had expressed concern over rising reports of child trafficking and abductions in parts of the country.
The police have assured the public of their commitment to protecting vulnerable persons, especially mothers and children, while urging hospitals and families to remain vigilant against such deceptive schemes.
