Police probe grand mum over baby’s death

The Asokwa District Police Command is investigating a case of murder against a 60-year-old grandmother, Abatan Baabi Minga, and her accomplice, Fuseini Akengo.

The two suspects, who hail from Naaka near Navrongo, are being held in police custody for allegedly burying alive a five-month old baby boy being the great grandson of the woman at Atonsu-Kuwait in Kumasi.

Supt. Rev Samuel Nyamekye Adane-Ameyaw, Asokwa District Police Commander, told DAILY GUIDE the old woman allegedly contracted Fuseini Akengo, believed to be in his 30s, to undertake the callous act on Wednesday night.

He narrated that Fuseini reportedly took the baby to a nearby bush behind their home, dug a shallow grave, threw the baby into the grave and covered it with sand.

Supt. Adane-Ameyaw stated that the woman had since denied the allegation in her statement to the police, claiming that the baby died of tuberculosis, a disease which she alleged killed the (baby’s) mother only known as Maa.

The police chief said pathologists at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) were expected to perform a post-mortem on the body to determine the exact cause of death of the baby.

An uncle of the baby boy, Kwabena Anafo, 41, told DAILY GUIDE the incident happened on Wednesday night shortly after his grandmother, Abaotoa Minga, had told him the baby was sick.

According to Anafo, the baby was handed over to granny Minga after the death of his mother at St Martin’s Hospital at Pramso about two weeks ago.

“Just yesterday (referring to Wednesday) my grandmother told me the baby was sick and she had given him some medicine without food. Later in the evening, she came back to inform me that the baby had died,” he narrated.

He explained that some residents alerted the police after they became suspicious about the baby’s death.

Kwabena Anafo said the police stormed their home, arrested his grandmother and Fuseini, and took them to the station.

Sister Afia, a resident of the area who alerted the police, told DAILY GUIDE she suddenly became curious when the baby’s great grandmother informed her about the death of the three-month-old boy.

Sister Afia, popularly known as Siwaa, said Madam Minga told her she gave Fuseini GH¢20 to bury the child, thereby raising her suspicion of foul play.

“When I demanded to know where the baby was buried, Fuseini was not forthcoming which compelled me to alert the police,” she submitted.