WOMAN DUMPS BABY INTO TOILET

The Wa Police have arrested a 28-year old woman, Catherine Mirinakuma, for allegedly dumping her day-old baby girl in a pubic toilet at Busie in the Nadowli District of the Upper West Region.

Briefing The Mirror at Wa, Mr E.B. Ansong, Regional Police Commander, said at dawn on Monday, August 13, a cleaner who was working on the public toilet at Busie, heard the cry of a baby in one of the pits.

He said the cleaner raised an alarm which attracted many people to the scene.

According to Mr Ansong, the people managed to retrieve the baby girl, wrapped in a polythene bag from the pit and rushed it to the Busie Clinic for first aid after which it was referred to the Nadowli Government Hospital, where it was admitted for further treatment.

He said a report was made to the police who conducted a through investigation leading to the arrest of Catherine.

During interrogation by the Women and Juvenile Unit (WAJU) of the Ghana Police Service at Wa, Catherine said she decided to eliminate the baby because of financial difficulties.

Catherine, who already has two children, a three-year old daughter and a one-and-a-half-year old son, said their father, with whom she stayed at Tarkwa, failed to cater for them.

She said for this reason, she decided to divorce him and therefore left Tarkwa for her hometown, Busie.

Catherine said when she reached Techiman, she ran short of money and therefore approached another man called Paul, for monetary assistance to enable her continue her journey to Busie.

Paul, according to Catherine, demanded to have sex with her before granting her request.

Catherine said she had no alternative but to succumb to Paul’s demand which resulted in the pregnancy.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare at Nadowli, in conjunction with the police, World Vision International and the Ministry of Health ,is catering for the baby girl.

Mr G.S. Naah, Nadowli District Social Welfare Officer, told The Mirror that his outfit was conducting investigations into the background of Catherine after which the baby would be sent to the Children’s Home at Tamale.