Sale of new born babies: Police crack syndicate… 2 doctors, 4 nurses, 5 others in police grips
Two medical doctors, four nurses and five other persons have been arrested for allegedly engaging in the sale of two new born babies, at two private hospitals, in Accra.
The doctors, whose licences have currently been revoked,the Medical and Dental Council (MDC), are Dr Hope Mensah Quashie of the 37 Military Hospital and Dr Noah Kofi Lartey of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.
The suspected nurses are Sylvia Awuseh, John Adorey Effie, Angela Ametepe and Stella Deli of Susan Clinic,a private health facility, at Lartebikorshie, in Accra.
Other persons linked to the case are Leonard Agbley, Doris Badu, both Social Welfare Officers, Madam Dede GiftyAnikpi, a traditional birth attendant, at Bethlehem Maternity Home at Santoe, asuburb of Kpone Katamanso, and the mothers of the two babies (names withheld).
The operation, which led to the arrest, was carried out by a join team of personnel from the MDC and Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
The Executive Director of EOCO, Commissioner of Police (COP)Frank Adu-Poku (Rtd), who announced these at a press conference in Accra, said the suspects have been granted bail and assisting in investigations, while the two babies were in the custody of the team.
He said Dr Quarshie, who also works at Susan Clinic,was arrested in December last year, for allegedly selling a baby boy to the team for GH¢30,000, in October last year,with the aid of Effie, Ametepe, Awuseh and Deli.
COP Adu-Poku (Rtd)said Dede, who referred the mother of the first baby to Susan Clinic, was also nabbed by the team on January 15,2021.
He indicated that on December 31, 2020, the joint team arrested Agbley at a health facility in Tema, after the suspect agreed to help investigators to purchase a new-born baby for GH¢28,000.
“He led a member of the investigations team to the Tema General Hospital where the baby was handed over to them by a lady named Nancy Obaa Yaa,” COP Adu-Poku (Rtd)said.
He said further investigations revealed that Badu, a social worker at the Tema General Hospital was the brain behind the sale of the baby,who was allegedly ‘supplied’ by Dr Lartey for sale.
He stated that Badu and the mother of the first baby were arrested in separate operations on January 4,2021.
COP Adu-Poku(Rtd) stated that on January 5, 2021, Dr Lartey, who also operates a private hospital, Dangbe Community Hospital, was also arrested.
Dr Divine Banyubala, the acting Registrar of MDC, reminded the public that the Council was mandated to ensure professionalism, public safety, confidence, trust in the healthcare system and respect for human dignity.
“The profession the Council regulates is noble, and the events today should increase the confidence in the health care delivery”, he added.
Dr Banyubala said the MDC was collaborating with other agencies to advance professional ethics and focus on professional accountability.
He called on journalists to help ‘weed’ out miscreants in the medical profession, and asked the public to report any concerns and alleged breaches to the Council for prompt action.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI
