A Ghanaian woman was arrested Feb. 18, 2026, for allegedly stealing a newborn from a hospital postnatal ward, leading to a nationwide search and the baby’s safe recovery.

A 33-year-old woman, Latifa Salifu, was arrested in Accra, Ghana, on February 18, 2026, in connection with the alleged theft of a four-day-old baby from Mamprobi Polyclinic’s postnatal ward. The infant, taken minutes after a cesarean section, was recovered after a nationwide manhunt, aided by a tip from the suspect’s sister and viral social media footage. The baby, found with a fever and an unhealed umbilical cord, was reunited with his mother using a birthmark for identification. Salifu, who claimed to have recently given birth, was detained despite no hospital records supporting her story. Authorities are investigating how she accessed the ward, with reports of broken cameras and weak security. The Health Ministry has ordered increased hospital security, and the government pledged medical and psychosocial support.