*REPORT ON HON. MUNICIPAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S VISIT TO SALAGA MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL REGARDING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF A FEMALE NEONATE FROM THE NICU*
On Thursday, 11th June, 2026, Hon. Kassim Rabiu Yazid, Municipal Chief Executive of East Gonja Municipal Assembly, accompanied by; Mr. Desmond Ayerike (MFO), Chief Abu Ibrahim (Deputy Director), Mr. Abdul-Rahim Bayason and C/Inspt. Osei Bonsu, undertook an emergency visit to Salaga Municipal Hospital, following reports that a one-day-old female child admitted at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was unaccounted for.
The purpose of the visit was to assess the situation firsthand, engage the facility’s management and staff, determine immediate steps to address the incident, prevent future recurrence and to also;
1. Obtain a factual account of circumstances surrounding the missing neonate.
2. Assess hospital protocols for patient safety, security and record-keeping at the NICU.
3. Reassure the family of the affected child and the general public of the Assembly’s commitment to resolution and accountability.
The day old neonate, born to natives of Kulpi, a community in East Gonja Municipality, was admitted at the NICU after birth due to medical condition. After she had recovered and kept under close monitoring, a nursing mother staff on duty observed that the infant was missing from her cot during her routine checks.
Initial internal search of the labor ward and maternity block yielded no results. So, the matter was reported to the Hospital Administrator and subsequently to the Salaga Police on Wednesday, 10th June, 2026 for investigation.
During the visit, it was established that the NICU operates with restricted access but the team observed that visitor log enforcement was inconsistent. There was no CCTV coverage at the maternity block and the NICU itself was not covered by cameras.
Hon. MCE met with representatives of parents of the missing child who expressed distress and requested urgent action with a high level of transparency. The family was assured of the Assembly’s support and commitment to a thorough investigation.
The hospital management team was urged to Immediately activate the hospital’s incident management team and fully co-operate with the Ghana Police Service to enhance investigation.
They were also urged to embark on a 72-hour audit of all entry/exit points, visitor logs and staff movement in the maternity block of the facility.
The MCE engaged the Police who represented the Divisional Police Commander on-site to ensure priority attention to the case.
He later engaged a youth group from the Kulpi community who massed-up at the hospital in solidarity and presented a brief factual statement of the issue to avoid escalation while protecting the integrity of the investigation.
He used the opportunity to assure the family of the Assembly’s commitment to provide psychosocial support to the parents and recommended to authorities of the facility to extend the existing CCTV camera coverage to the; NICU, labor ward and maternity exits within 30 days, with funding support to be sourced from the Assembly’s IGF or DACF.
He also called on them to institute mandatory double-checks and sign-off of all neonates during shift handovers with copies to the Nursing Manager with strict enforcement of visitor logs, ID checks and limitation of NICU access to authorized personnel and parents ONLY.
He directed the Municipal Co-ordinating Director’s office to receive daily updates from the hospital and Police until the matter is resolved.
The neonate’s disappearance from the health facility is a grave matter that undermines public trust. The MCE’s visit affirmed the Assembly’s zero tolerance for lapses in patient safety. The Assembly will monitor implementation of the recommendations and work closely with the Regional Health Directorate and Police to ensure accountability and prevent recurrences.
*Prepared by:*
*(CHIEF ABU IBRAHIM)*
