Police Arrest 38-Year-Old Woman for Abducting Newborn in Wa
The Upper West Regional Police Command has arrested a 38-year-old woman, Abena Martha Maanibeh, for allegedly stealing a week-old baby and the belongings of the child’s mother.
According to a police statement signed by the Upper West Regional Police Commander, DCOP Darko Offei Lomotey, the suspect posed as a patient’s caretaker and deceived the mother, Ms. Kwofie Mwinbelle, into leaving the hospital.
Ms. Mwinbelle had given birth to a baby boy on August 1, 2025, at the Wa Regional Hospital. On August 10, the suspect allegedly persuaded her to accompany her to the Wa market to buy diapers. While there, Maanibeh absconded with the newborn and the mother’s handbag, which contained a mobile phone, cash, and other valuables.
A swift investigation by the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) led to the suspect’s arrest at her hideout in Nuobille Community in the Savannah Region on August 15. The baby was rescued unharmed and reunited with his mother.
“The suspect was arraigned before the Wa District Magistrate Court on Monday, August 18, 2025, and remanded into custody to reappear on September 2, 2025,” the police statement confirmed.
