Filed by: Issah Abdul-Latif
A dead male infant was discovered abandoned in front of SEM-B Lodge along the Wa–Kumasi Road on Friday morning, an incident that has left residents of the area shocked and saddened.
The dead newborn, wrapped in a black polythene bag and kept in a box, was found at about 8:30 a.m.
Speaking to MAK News, Madam Ernestina, a staff member of SEM-B Lodge, recounted how the discovery was made. According to her, at about 8:00 a.m., one of the Lodge’s cleaners alerted the other staff after noticing a heavy black polythene bag on the premises.
“The cleaner decided to open the bag and was shocked to see the toes and fingers of a baby. She became frightened and immediately informed us,” Madam Ernestina said.
She confirmed that the infant was a baby boy and explained that after confirming what had been found, staff quickly informed their manager, who, she believed, also informed the police about the incident.
The Assembly Member for the Bamahu Electoral Area, Hon. Adams Yahaya Jiga, said he was in school when he received a phone call about the incident. He initially believed the baby had been found alive, but upon arriving at the scene, he realized the infant was already dead.
Hon. Jiga described the incident as the first of its kind in the area, to the best of his knowledge. He expressed deep sadness over the incident, stating that it was heartbreaking for a woman to carry a pregnancy to full term only to abandon the baby in such a manner.
He said it was too early to determine whether the person responsible was a resident of the area or someone from elsewhere. The matter, he added, would be left in the hands of the Ghana Police Service to conduct investigations through the appropriate legal processes.
The Assembly Member confirmed that the management of SEM-B Lodge had reported the incident to the police but said that, having only just arrived at the scene, he could not immediately outline any further steps to be taken.
Owner of SEM-B Lodge, Mr. Paul Bangniyel, told MAK News that he received a call from one of his workers at about 8:30 a.m. informing him of the discovery.
He confirmed that he promptly reported the incident to the police and said officers, together with an Environmental Health Officer, were at the scene to assess the situation and begin the necessary investigative procedures.
Mr. Bangniyel said he was not present when the body was discovered and therefore could not comment on exactly what had happened. According to him, the Hotel has operated for more than 15 years, and this is the first time such an incident has occurred on its premises.
He stressed that there is no evidence to suggest that any member of staff was involved, noting that all employees live outside the lodge. He also dismissed speculation that a guest may have been responsible, although he said he could not completely rule out the possibility. He, nonetheless, indicated that if the delivery had taken place in one of the rooms, the cleaners would likely have noticed signs, but no such information had been reported to management.
He suggested that the dead infant may have been abandoned by a passer-by, but said that they will patiently wait for the police to conduct their investigation and inform them appropriately.
Several residents who gathered at the scene expressed concern over the incident and called on the authorities to conduct thorough investigations to identify those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice.
Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.
