Police in Wa in the Upper West Region have launched investigations following the discovery of the lifeless body of a newborn baby boy at a refuse dump near Sem-B Hotel in Bamahu, a suburb of the regional capital.
The heartbreaking discovery has shocked residents and reignited concerns over child abandonment, with authorities working to establish the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death and identify those responsible.
Cleaner Makes Disturbing Discovery During Routine Duties
The body was discovered on Friday morning by a cleaner at Sem-B Hotel while carrying out routine sanitation work.
According to the cleaner, after sweeping the hotel premises, she proceeded to empty a refuse bin located near the entrance of the facility. As she prepared to dispose of the waste, she noticed what appeared to be part of a human body protruding from the rubbish.
Alarmed by the sight, she immediately called her colleagues to verify the discovery. The workers confirmed that the object was the body of a newborn baby boy, prompting them to alert hotel management without disturbing the scene.
Hotel Management Immediately Alerts Police
The owner of Sem-B Hotel, Dr. Paul Bangniyel, said he was informed by staff shortly after the discovery and immediately contacted the Wa Municipal Police.
He instructed employees not to tamper with the scene while officers from the Ghana Police Service and the Environmental Health Unit were called in to assess the situation and commence the necessary investigations.
Dr. Bangniyel described the incident as unprecedented, noting that in more than 15 years of operating the hotel, no similar occurrence had ever been recorded at the facility.
Although investigations are still at an early stage, the hotel owner suggested that the baby’s body may have been abandoned by someone passing through the area because the refuse dump is located beside the roadside.
He also acknowledged that investigators would examine every possible angle, including whether the incident had any connection to the hotel, but stressed that there was currently no evidence to support such a conclusion.
Community Expresses Shock
Assembly Member for the Bamahu Electoral Area, Adams Yahaya Gigah, described the incident as deeply disturbing and said it had come as a surprise to residents.
He noted that the community had never experienced such an incident before and expressed concern about its impact on the area’s reputation.
The Assembly Member commended the hotel management for promptly reporting the matter to the police and urged residents to cooperate with investigators by providing any information that could assist in identifying those responsible.
Police Begin Full Investigation
Police have since taken custody of the baby’s body as investigations continue.
Investigators are expected to conduct forensic examinations and gather evidence to determine how the infant died, when the body was abandoned, and whether any suspects can be identified.
Authorities have appealed to members of the public with relevant information to assist the investigation as efforts continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
Renewed Calls to Protect Vulnerable Children
The incident has renewed public concern over cases of infant abandonment in Ghana and the need for stronger community support systems for vulnerable mothers and newborns.
Child welfare advocates continue to encourage anyone facing pregnancy-related difficulties to seek assistance from family members, healthcare providers, social welfare agencies or other appropriate support services, stressing that timely intervention can help prevent such tragedies.
As investigations continue, residents of Wa are hoping the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death will be fully established and that those responsible will be brought to justice.
