Baby Harvesting/trafficking: Time For National Dialogue And Collective Action-Rise-Ghana

Globally, an estimated 580 (approximately 5-8% of couples) million people experience infertility, with more than half, 372 million in lower and middle-income countries (WHO, 2004). Africa has the largest burden of 10-32% of infertile couples (Okonofua, 2005).

On 20th January 2021, the Ghana Medical Council (MDC) and the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) issued a joint statement about the involvement of some medical practitioners, social welfare officers and individuals in what appears to be a complicated syndicate involving baby harvesting and baby selling using trusted government facilities and departments like hospitals and the department of social welfare as a conduit. The disturbing news flooded the nation’s traditional and new media as Ghanaian expressed their shock.

The MDC and EOCO needs to be commended for the painstaking and detailed undercover work from June to November 2020, which led to the subsequent arrest of some the culprits. It is our hope that, those found culpable will be made to face the full rigors of the law and not left off the hook as happens with some criminal cases so as to end the culture of impunity and to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to engage is such albeit “lucrative” illegality and inhumane acts.

While recognizing the great sacrifices and contributions of health and social workers to promote “the best interest of the child”in line with Ghana’s Children Act and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, there is an urgent need to address the emerging worrying trend of baby selling, baby stealing and missing babies which has the likelihood of entrenching the practice of baby harvesting.

To nip this emerging canker in the bud, RISE-Ghana wishes to highlight the following concerns to improve policy and practice:

Revisit the punishment to health workers found culpable in cases of missing babies. The two Nurses involved in the famous Suweiba Mumuni missing baby at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in 2014 were only asked to by the Ministry of Health and the Nurses and Midwifery Council after investigation to go on one month and two week leave without pay respectively. With babies sold at GHs 30,000.00, one can safely say that the MoH and NMC is creating an impression that health workers can report babies as missing, sell them and take a month or two weeks off to enjoy the proceeds which is way higher than their monthly salaries. This is an unfortunate and dangerous precedent.

Evidence from WHO and UNICEF show that proximity with the mother facilitates breastfeeding- the single most effective strategy for child survival as it reduces risks of nosocomial infections (infections acquired in the hospital or health facility due to gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC) and sepsis by -47%.

Detaching babies from their mothers immediately after birth (baby harvesting) is tantamount to murder and a gross violation of their right to health, adequate nutrition and security. It also violate the mother’s right to bond and provide upkeep for the baby. Breastmilk contains all the nutrients that a baby needs for the first six months of life. The colostrums contains antibodies, white cells, purgative properties, growth factors. Baby harvesters should be charged with murder.

Corruption has been found to be one of the drivers leading to impunity in the practice of baby harvesting with allegations of some Judges and Police Officers colluding to free criminals in southern Nigeria. The Ghana Police Service should profess more appropriate charge on perpetrators instead of the usual “stealing and conspiracy to steal” which has the likely to promote impunity.

The Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Civil Society Organizations and Partners like UNICEF and the World Organization should invest in efforts to role-out the Ghana’s New Born Care policy, the Child and Family Welfare Policy and the Nurturing Care Framework policies at the community level as a larger part of health systems strengthening to increase accountability and participation at the grassroots.

With Africa having the largest burden of 10-32% of infertile couples (Okonofua, 2005), limited access to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and cumbersome child adoption processes, there is urgent need for national dialogue to popularize legal means of child adoption by operationalizing among others the Child and Family Welfare policy as well as increase access to ART and fertility services.

The phenomenon of occultism and money rituals which often require newborns and fetuses need to investigated and operatives disbanded where they exist to avoid the situation in Nigeria where baby factories have been set up to feed that market.

The Ministry of Gender and Social Protection should take up recent investigation as serious case of exploitation of women and a child protection and factor into its policies and programmes.

Last but not the least, Self-Help Groups like the Ghana Association of Childless Couples as well as mothers and fathers whose children have been missing or harvested should be given the necessary support they urgent need.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Alhaji Awal Ahmed Kariama

Executive Director

Email:riseghana06@gmail.com

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