Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has directed health facilities across the country to strictly enforce security protocols following the recent theft of a baby at Mamprobi Polytechnic.
The Minister issued the directive during a working visit to Mamprobi Polytechnic, the Nursing and Midwifery Training School at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and James Town Polytechnic. The visit was aimed at assessing conditions at the institutions and reviewing security measures introduced after the incident.
Speaking in connection with the stolen baby case at Mamprobi Polytechnic, Mr. Akandoh cautioned against speculation, noting that investigations are still ongoing.
“You can’t pre-empt the investigations. Whether or not somebody will be held responsible, punished or sanctioned will come from the findings,” he stated, stressing that it would be prejudicial to comment further until the process is completed.
Management at Mamprobi Polytechnic briefed the Minister on lapses that allowed the suspect to gain access to the ward. The woman reportedly dressed in scrubs, posed as a nurse, and entered the postnatal ward under the pretext of administering medication before leaving with the baby during an early morning shift handover.
Authorities acknowledged that the suspect was not wearing an identification tag — a key security breach identified after the incident. They also revealed that although security personnel were stationed at post, the officer had briefly stepped away on patrol at the time. CCTV cameras captured footage of the suspect, leading to her identification.
In response, management has strengthened security protocols. These include mandatory wearing of name tags by all health professionals, issuance of labeled identification tags to approved relatives, introduction of a visitor logbook system, and strict enforcement of designated visiting hours limited to specific morning and evening periods.
The Minister expressed concern over non-compliance with existing directives, particularly regarding identification tags and the maintenance of functional CCTV systems.
“We don’t give instructions just for the sake of it. Government cannot come and wear your name tags for you,” he emphasized, urging staff to be more security-conscious and vigilant.
He further directed all health facilities nationwide to maintain close collaboration with the nearest police posts to ensure swift response in emergencies.
Beyond security, discussions also touched on infrastructure and staffing challenges. Management appealed for expansion of the postnatal block to improve supervision and accommodate more mothers and babies within a centralized space. While parts of the aging structure have seen renovations in recent years, space constraints remain a concern.
Mr. Akandoh assured management that further engagements would be held to explore additional government support, while insisting that strict adherence to established protocols remains critical to preventing a recurrence.
