Two midwives attached to the East Gonja District Hospital at Salaga in the Savannah Region have been remanded into police custody over the alleged abduction of a newborn baby, authorities say.

The health workers, identified as Frank Atanga, 52, and Mariam Mohammed, 32, appeared before the Tamale Circuit Court on charges of conspiracy to steal and abduction following the disappearance of the infant from the facility.

Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Presiding judge Afua Srakuba ordered that the accused be held in police custody for one week and adjourned the case to 18 June for further hearing.

The case stems from the disappearance of a newborn from the hospital on June 10, prompting investigations by police and health authorities in the Savannah Region.

In a statement, the Savannah Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service described the incident as “unfortunate and disturbing”, saying hospital officials immediately conducted a search within the facility after receiving reports that the baby was missing.

The search yielded no results.

Regional Health Director Dr. John Ekow Otoo said the Directorate was collaborating with hospital management, security personnel and the Ghana Police Service to establish how the baby went missing and to ensure the child’s safe return.

The Directorate expressed sympathy to the family and appealed to the public to provide any information that could assist in locating the newborn, assuring that all information would be treated confidentially.

Police investigations are ongoing.