Abusive caregiver arrested over death of baby

A 54-year-old caregiver who allegedly mistreated an 11-month-old baby girl, leading to her death, has been apprehended by the police.

Clara Ayani-Ampah’s arrest comes after a CCTV camera installed in a room at the Happy Bloomers Creche at Agbogba, exposed the horrendous act.

The victim, little Allegra Yaba Ackah Mensah was in a colourful and neatly decorated room with two other babies.

One of the babies was standing in a cradle, while the other was lying on the floor, unattended to, with little Allegra sitting on a stool.

The caregiver left the classroom, returning shortly with a cup and captured cleaning the floor with tissue.

She was later captured trying to force porridge into the victim’s mouth, while holding the baby’s hands tightly at the back.

Clara pushed the baby’s head into the cup in an attempt to get the little girl to drink the porridge.

The helpless baby, who appeared to be suffocating, screamed and threw her legs into the air ferociously.

After a period, the school’s management called the father to inform him that his daughter was sick.

But Allegra was pronounced dead at the North Legon Hospital where she had been rushed for medical attention.

The father reported the incident to the police, and a team was dispatched to the school.

The caregiver was later arrested after management made available the video surveillance to the police.

Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge said the case has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s office.

The body of little Allegra has since been released to the family for burial.