The Obuasi Fire Station received a distress call at 10:30 PM on Sunday, July 20, 2025, reporting that a newborn baby boy had been abandoned in a public latrine at Kwameduakrom, in the Obuasi East District.
Acting with urgency, the fire crew, led by Station Officer II Appiah Kubi, mobilised immediately to the scene.
Daring rescue mission
Arriving within minutes, the firefighters conducted a quick assessment of the situation before initiating a risky but coordinated rescue operation.
With the aid of an extension ladder, the team descended into the latrine to retrieve the infant.
The baby was successfully rescued alive at 11:31 PM, barely an hour after the distress call.
Baby receives urgent medical care
Following the dramatic rescue, the newborn was rushed to the AngloGold Ashanti Hospital (A.G.A.) for urgent medical attention. Hospital staff have since confirmed that the baby is receiving appropriate care.
Public praise for firefighters
The Obuasi Fire Crew has been widely praised for their swift response, courage, and dedication to saving lives.
Their actions have once again highlighted the critical role emergency services play in safeguarding the most vulnerable, even under challenging and dangerous circumstances.
Similar incident in Dambai
Last month, a similar incident occurred when a 21-year-old woman, identified as Madam Paulina Linaju, reportedly gave birth in a private toilet while attempting to use the facility.
The baby, tragically, was later found dead in the pit latrine.
According to the Assembly Member for Dambai Old Town, Oboaba Yakubu, the young woman—an apprentice hairdresser—had gone to use the private toilet, only for a tenant’s son to later hear the sound of a crying baby coming from the latrine.
The incident occurred while Yakubu was live on air with Oti FM, prompting a quick response after a distress call from the landlord after the woman unexpectedly gave birth in the toilet facility.
“Upon rushing to the scene, I called a police officer and later found the baby dead in the pit,” Yakubu told the Ghana News Agency (GNA). The police retrieved the body, and family members reportedly arranged for a burial.
The woman has since been hospitalised and is under monitoring by both medical personnel and police officers. Her condition remains stable but under observation.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Al-hassan Abdul-Razak, the Divisional Crime Officer at the Dambai Police Command, stated that no official report has been filed, though he confirmed awareness of the case through unofficial channels.
This tragic case brings renewed attention to maternal health challenges in Ghana, particularly in relation to access to Ghanaian health facilities and the need for improved public awareness around reproductive health and emergency care.
Attempts to speak directly with the victim have so far been unsuccessful.
