Anaji (W/R), March 28, GNA - The Police at Takoradi have mounted a search for the mother of about a year-old baby girl found abandoned in a gutter at the Anaji Estates, a suburb of Takoradi early Sunday morning. The child, which was naked and looked pale, dirty and with mosquito bites all over the body, was handed over to Mr. John Davies, assemblyman for the Anaji electoral area.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the scene, Mr. Boakye Yiadom and Ebenezer Essuman, both residents and eyewitnesses said they met at a nearby telephone booth to make calls around 0500hours this morning and heard the feeble cries of a child from the drain. They said initially, they ignored it but when the crying intensified, and did not see any woman with a child around, they searched the area only to find the child, covered with mud in a gutter. "We quickly knocked on some doors for water, soap and clothing to wash and clothe the child before handing her over to the assemblyman".

Mr. Davies said he was asleep when the child was brought to him and added that he had in turn handed it over to one Madam Patience Opare, a unit committee member to feed the baby before taking it to the hospital. He said he would make contacts with Dr Linda Van-Otoo, Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Director of Health Services, Mr Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, Metropolitan Chief executive, officials of the Department of Social Welfare and the Police for assistance. The Assemblyman appealed to the public to help to trace the mother of the abandoned child by reporting any suspect to the nearest Police station.