- A 38-year-old woman, Abena Martha Maanibeh, has been arrested for allegedly abducting a one-week-old baby and stealing valuables from the infant’s mother at Wa Market in Ghana’s Upper West Region.
- Posing as a hospital caretaker, she befriended the mother and lured her to the market under false pretenses.
- The baby was rescued unharmed after a swift police operation led by DOVVSU. Maanibeh has been remanded and is set to reappear in court on September 2.
A disturbing case of deception and child abduction has rocked the Upper West Region, where a woman posing as a hospital caretaker allegedly stole a newborn baby and fled with the mother’s belongings.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Abena Martha Maanibeh, reportedly befriended new mother Kwofie Mwinbelle at the Wa Regional Hospital shortly after she gave birth. On August 10, under the guise of helping her shop for baby supplies, Maanibeh lured the mother to Wa Market — and vanished with the one-week-old infant and a handbag containing cash, a mobile phone, and other personal items.
The incident triggered a swift response from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), led by ASP Stella Atukwia. Within five days, investigators tracked Maanibeh to a hideout in Nuobollie, a community in the Savannah Region. The baby was found safe and has since been reunited with his mother. Some of the stolen items were also recovered.
Maanibeh was arraigned before the Wa District Magistrate Court on August 18 and remanded into custody. She is expected to reappear on September 2 as investigations continue.
The Upper West Regional Police Command has praised the public for their vigilance and cooperation, reaffirming its commitment to protecting lives and property. The case has sparked renewed calls for tighter security around maternity wards and marketplaces, where vulnerable mothers are often targeted.
