Ejisu Police Release Parents, Arrest Caretaker Over Missing Five-Month-Old Baby at Asafo Market
Police have released the baby’s parents and uncle after an identification parade cleared a woman earlier accused of taking the child, while the caretaker has been arrested to assist with investigations.
- Parents and uncle released
- Caretaker arrested for questioning
- Police continue search for baby
The Ejisu Divisional Police Command has released the parents and an uncle of the five-month-old baby reported missing at the Asafo Market in Kumasi, while arresting the woman who was reportedly caring for the child before he disappeared.
The parents — Freda Owusu and her husband, Emmanuel Acheampong — and a relative, Osei Kuffour, were earlier arrested after they wrongly identified a baby found in the care of a traveller, Aliya Salomey, as their missing child.
The family subsequently circulated the allegation on social media, accusing Ms Salomey of taking the baby.
However, a police identification parade conducted at Ejisu established that the baby in Ms Salomey’s custody was not the missing child.
The three family members were consequently arrested for allegedly providing false information and defamation but have since been released after preliminary screening and interrogation.
In a new development, police have arrested the woman under whose care Freda Owusu reportedly left her baby before the child went missing at the Asafo Market.
The woman, whose name has not been disclosed, is currently assisting police with investigations.
Ejisu Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Samuel Kofi Gamson, confirmed the development to Nhyira News.
“The parents and the uncle of the missing child have been released after interrogation, but the woman who was allegedly entrusted with the baby before it went missing has been arrested to assist with further investigations,” he said.
The baby reportedly went missing in the early hours of Sunday, September 20, 2026, from the Cape Coast Bus Terminal section of the Asafo Market, popularly known as Opera Site.
How the False Accusation Arose
The case took a dramatic turn after police arrested Aliya Salomey, who was travelling on a VIP bus towards Accra with a baby.
Fellow passengers reportedly became suspicious of her interaction with the infant and alerted the police at Ejisu.
Ms Salomey was later granted police enquiry bail after her husband appeared at the station and identified her as his wife, insisting that the baby belonged to them.
According to Chief Superintendent Gamson, no official report of a missing child had been filed at the Ejisu Police Command at the time Ms Salomey was granted bail.
The parents later went to Ejisu, identified a photograph of Ms Salomey and the baby as their missing child and alleged abductor, and subsequently circulated the claim on social media.
This prompted police to re-arrest Ms Salomey.
However, a subsequent identification parade established that the baby was not the child reported missing by the family, leading to the family acknowledging the mistake.
Case Transferred to Asokwa Police
Meanwhile, arrangements are being made for a DNA test on the baby found with Ms Salomey to scientifically establish the child’s biological relationship with her before she is formally cleared of the child-stealing allegation.
The case has also been transferred to the Asokwa Police Station, where the parents initially reported their baby’s disappearance.
Chief Superintendent Gamson confirmed that investigations are ongoing to locate the missing five-month-old baby and establish the circumstances surrounding his disappearance while in the care of the newly arrested caretaker.
Police are also expected to determine the circumstances that led to the initial false accusation against Ms Salomey.
