Ejisu Police: Parents Arrested For False Baby Theft Accusation In Ghana

• Parents Freda Owusu and Emmanuel Acheampong reported their five-month-old baby stolen from Asafo Market in Kumasi on September 20, 2026.
• They falsely accused Aliya Salomey of the theft, identifying a baby in her custody as theirs and circulating these claims on social media.
• After an identification parade, the parents admitted the baby in Salomey's custody was not their missing child.
• The Ejisu Divisional Police arrested Freda Owusu, Emmanuel Acheampong, and their relative Osei Kuffour for providing false information and defaming Aliya Salomey.
• Investigations into the actual missing baby continue, and a DNA test is planned for Aliya Salomey's baby to confirm maternity.

This incident, involving the Ejisu Police arrest of parents for false accusation in Ghana, underscores the severe legal ramifications of making unsubstantiated claims to authorities.

The Ejisu Divisional Police Command has taken into custody the parents and an uncle of a five-month-old infant, following their false accusation against a woman regarding the alleged theft of their baby at Kumasi's Asafo Market. The incident began on Sunday, September 20, 2026, when Freda Owusu and Emmanuel Acheampong reported their child missing from the Cape Coast Bus Terminal section of the market, specifically the area known as Opera Site. Their complaint, lodged at the Asokwa Police Station, initiated a police search for the missing infant.

Subsequently, Aliya Salomey was apprehended by the Ejisu Divisional Police while traveling on a VIP bus towards Accra with a baby. Fellow passengers, suspicious of her interaction with the infant, alerted authorities at the Ejisu police station, leading to her initial arrest. She was later released on bail after her husband confirmed the baby was theirs and that she was his wife. At the time of Salomey's bail, the Ejisu station had not received any official report of a missing child, according to Chief Superintendent Samuel Kofi Gamson, the Ejisu Divisional Police Commander.

However, Freda Owusu, Emmanuel Acheampong, and Freda's relative Osei Kuffour later visited the Ejisu Divisional Police Command, insisting that Salomey was the one who had stolen their baby. They identified a photograph of the baby in Salomey's custody as their missing child and a picture of Aliya Salomey as the alleged thief. The family further disseminated these claims on social media platforms.

Following these persistent accusations, the Ejisu Divisional Police intensified their investigation and re-arrested Aliya Salomey. An identification parade was then conducted, allowing the complainants' family to physically inspect the child in Salomey's care. During this parade, the parents, contrary to their earlier photographic identification and public claims, admitted that the baby was not theirs. This admission led to a significant turn in the case: Freda Owusu, Emmanuel Acheampong, and Osei Kuffour were subsequently arrested.

They face charges for providing false information to law enforcement and for the defamation of Aliya Salomey, particularly given their public assertions, including on social media, that the child in her custody belonged to them. The three individuals currently remain in custody at the Ejisu Divisional Police Command, where they are awaiting screening and processing in accordance with Ghana's legal procedures.

While the legal proceedings against the parents and uncle are underway, the police are also taking steps to definitively establish the maternity of the baby found with Aliya Salomey. Arrangements are being made for a DNA test to scientifically confirm the child's parentage, which will formally clear Salomey of the child-stealing allegation.

Crucially, the investigation into the whereabouts of the *actual* missing five-month-old baby from Asafo Market continues independently. Authorities have issued an appeal to the public, urging anyone with credible information to contact either the Asokwa or Ejisu Divisional Commands to assist in locating the child.

This incident, involving the Ejisu Police arrest of parents for false accusation in Ghana, underscores the severe legal ramifications of making unsubstantiated claims to authorities. The case highlights the potential for criminal liability under Ghana criminal defamation charges and false information report Ghana law, even when individuals may be acting under distress. The arrest of Freda Owusu and Emmanuel Acheampong, alongside their relative, for defaming Aliya Salomey and providing false information, serves as a stark reminder of the importance of verifying facts before engaging with law enforcement or public platforms.

Such actions can lead to the wrongful arrest and public vilification of innocent individuals, demonstrating the critical need for accurate reporting and the serious consequences of making an Asafo Market baby theft false claim without proper evidence. The Aliya Salomey defamation case exemplifies how quickly a situation can escalate from a missing person report to criminal charges for those making false allegations.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the criminal liability for making false reports to law enforcement and for defamation, even when driven by distress. Lawyers must advise clients on the severe legal repercussions of unsubstantiated accusations, particularly those that lead to the arrest or public vilification of others, emphasizing the need for verified facts before engaging with authorities or public platforms.

Source: Original reporting via Francis Mensah.