Following the unfortunate theft of a newborn baby at Salaga Municipal Hospital in the Savannah Region, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea paid a working visit to the municipality to engage key stakeholders, assess the situation, and reassure the affected family and community of the Service's commitment to finding the missing child.
The visit took the Director-General to the East Gonja Municipal Assembly, the Palace of the Kpembewura, Kulpe, the community where the baby's parents reside, Salaga Municipal Hospital, and a Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) meeting.
Meeting with the Municipal Chief Executive
Dr. Kaba Akoriyea first paid a courtesy call on the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the East Gonja Municipal Assembly, Hon. Kassim Rabiu Yazid where he was briefed on developments surrounding the incident and the measures being taken by the Municipal Assembly and security agencies.
Engagement with the Kpembewura and Traditional Leaders
The Director-General further paid a courtesy call on the Kpembewura, Paramount Chief of the Kpembe Traditional Area and President of the Kpembe Traditional Council, Yiram Haruna Bismark Dari Bambangne Ndefoso IV. The chief, who also serves as vice-president of the Savannah Regional House of Chiefs, was holding a meeting with his sub-chiefs, elders, and youth leaders when Dr. Kaba arrived.
Influential persons also present at that crucial meeting, included the Chief of the Komkomba community in the traditional area and executives of both Gonja and Komkomba Youth Associations.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Kaba emphasized the important role of traditional leaders during times of crisis.
“History has it that before the coming of the white man to Africa and for that matter Ghana, before independence and before administrative governments were established, our traditions and cultures, our societies and communities have always been governed by chieftaincy. In difficult times, we all run home to our chiefs for guidance, protection, and support. And that is why I have come home, to you the Chief, " he said.
He stressed that traditional authorities remain indispensable partners in national development and used the occasion to call for unity and calm.
Dr. Kaba Akoriyea apologized to the chiefs and people of the area over the unfortunate incident and assured them that the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service were taking all necessary steps to ensure such an occurrence does not happen again in Salaga or elsewhere in the country.
He further stated that any staff found culpable would be dealt with in accordance with the Service's rules and regulations. He added that the Ghana Health Service is cooperating fully with security agencies to investigate the matter and ensure the safe recovery of the missing baby for reunification with the family.
In response, the Kpembewura expressed satisfaction with the ongoing collaboration between the Ghana Health Service and the security agencies. He assured the Director-General that he had instructed his people to cooperate fully with investigators and urged residents to remain calm and allow the security services to carry out their work.
The Chief of the Konkomba community also appealed for peace and encouraged residents to respect the legal process as authorities work to find the missing baby and prosecute those responsible.
Similarly, the General Secretary of the Konkomba Youth Association of Ghana (KOYA), Onajah N-Yajapoa Emmanuel, urged young people to remain calm and pursue lawful means in seeking justice. He further called for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident and recommendations on how similar occurrences can be prevented in future.
Visit to the Family at Kulpe community
Accompanied by the Savannah Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. John Ekow Otoo; the Northern Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Crysantus Kubio; senior regional health managers; and executives of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) in the region, led by the President , Dr. Kaba visited the community where the parents of the missing baby live.
The community entry was led by the Chief of the Komkomba in the traditional area and the Komkomba Youth Association executives and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the East Gonja Municipal Assembly, Hon. Kassim Rabiu Yazid.
A community durbar was held to update residents and the family on the actions being taken by the Ghana Health Service and security agencies.
Members of the family and the wider community expressed frustration over the incident and appealed to investigators to expedite their work to ensure the baby's safe return.
Dr. Kaba reiterated his appeal for calm and urged residents not to attack health workers or vandalize health facilities, warning that such actions could negatively affect healthcare delivery in the municipality. He expressed deep sympathy for the family and the community and encouraged them to trust the ongoing investigative process.
"This is not a tribal issue nor political issue. It is a criminal act, and so it must be handled as such. A communal fight will not benefit any person, inciting people on social media will drive potential investors away from the community, distract farming activities, destroy school attendance and all other health care services, this also has negative consequences on posting of health work force to the community. I, therefore, insist and plead with my brothers to leave the issue in the hands of our security agencies. Anyone found culpable shall be severely dealt with, irrespective of their status. No health worker shall be spared if found culpable. An independent committee has been instituted, and peace should prevail to enable them to perform their investigation’’ he stated
The Municipal Chief Executive also addressed the gathering, calling for peace and updating residents on measures being implemented by the District Security Council.
Inspection of Salaga Municipal Hospital
The Director-General then proceeded to the Salaga Municipal Hospital, where the incident occurred. He visited the maternity ward and met with hospital management to assess measures that had been introduced to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
The Acting Medical Superintendent of the facility briefed him on recommendations made following a security assessment conducted by the divisional police command. These measures include expanding CCTV camera coverage to additional sections of the hospital, strengthening security systems, and engaging a retired senior security officer to help improve discipline and supervision within the facility.
Dr. Kaba commended the efforts taken so far and urged hospital management and staff to continue cooperating fully with security agencies. He also emphasized the need to maintain uninterrupted healthcare services for residents of the municipality and surrounding communities.
Participation in MUSEC Meeting
The Director-General's final engagement was participation in a Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) meeting, where he received further updates on the investigation and ongoing efforts to locate the missing baby.
The Ghana Health Service has assured the public of its commitment to supporting investigations, strengthening security measures within health facilities, and ensuring justice is served while every effort is made to reunite the missing baby with the family.