The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has launched investigations into the disappearance of a newborn baby at the East Gonja District Hospital in Salaga, with health authorities and the police intensifying efforts to locate the infant and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to the Directorate, the infant was reported missing on June 10, 2026, at the East Gonja District Hospital. An immediate search was conducted within the facility after the report was made, but the efforts failed to locate the child, leading to the involvement of the East Gonja District Police Command.
In its statement, the Savannah Regional Health Directorate expressed sympathy to the family of the missing child and pledged its full support throughout the investigation.
“The Service extends its deepest sympathies to the parents and family of the baby during this difficult period and assures them of its full support as investigations continue”.
Savannah Regional Director of Health Service, Dr. John Ekow Otoo
The Directorate explained that following the report, hospital authorities immediately activated internal search procedures to trace the baby within the facility. However, when those efforts proved unsuccessful, the matter was formally referred to the police for further investigation.
Collaboration with Law Enforcement Agencies
The statement noted that health authorities are working closely with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to determine what happened and facilitate the safe return of the child.
“The Savannah Regional Health Directorate is working closely with the hospital management, the Ghana Police Service, and other relevant stakeholders to locate the missing baby and establish the circumstances surrounding the incident”.
Savannah Regional Director of Health Service, Dr. John Ekow Otoo
The incident has drawn widespread attention because hospitals are generally regarded as secure environments where mothers and newborns receive care under the supervision of trained health professionals.
The disappearance of a newborn from a healthcare facility is therefore likely to trigger public concern and demands for accountability. While details surrounding the disappearance remain unclear, health officials have emphasized that investigations are ongoing and that no effort is being spared in the search for the child.
The Regional Health Directorate sought to reassure the public that the safety, security and wellbeing of patients remain a core priority of the Ghana Health Service.
“The Directorate wishes to reassure the public that the safety, security, and well-being of patients, newborns, and all clients of the health service remain a top priority of the Ghana Health Service.”
Savannah Regional Director of Health Service, Dr. John Ekow Otoo
They further appealed to members of the public to support efforts to locate the baby by volunteering any information that could assist investigators.
Health authorities urged anyone with knowledge of the child’s whereabouts to contact the nearest police station, the Savannah Regional Health Directorate, or the East Gonja District Hospital without delay.
The Directorate assured the public that all information received would be handled confidentially to encourage cooperation from individuals who may have useful information. “Any information provided will be treated with the utmost confidentiality,” it added.
Ghana Health Service’s Commitment to Comprehensive Investigation
The statement, signed by the Savannah Regional Director of Health Service, Dr. John Ekow Otoo, reiterated the Ghana Health Service’s commitment to supporting all efforts aimed at reuniting the baby with the family and ensuring a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
Although authorities have not disclosed whether investigators have identified suspects or reviewed surveillance footage, security experts say the early hours following such incidents are often critical to tracing missing persons.
The police are expected to examine hospital records, interview healthcare workers, relatives and other persons who were present at the facility at the time of the disappearance as part of ongoing investigations.
The East Gonja District Hospital serves as a major referral facility within the district, providing maternal and child healthcare services to residents in Salaga and surrounding communities.
The incident is therefore likely to attract close scrutiny from both healthcare authorities and the public. For the family at the centre of the tragedy, however, the investigation is about more than procedures and protocols; it is about finding a missing child.
As police and health officials continue their search, an anxious community waits for answers and hopes for the baby’s safe return.
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