By: Shallon S. Gonlor |
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
NIMBA COUNTY, Liberia — A day-old baby boy was found abandoned in a bush in Ganta’s 404 Community on Sunday night, May 10, 2026. The discovery adds to a troubling rise in newborn abandonment cases across Nimba County between 2025 and 2026.
According to community accounts, an unidentified woman is suspected of having given birth and left the child in the palm bush shortly afterward. An alarm raised by residents led to the baby’s rescue. He was found alive, in stable condition, and rushed to Ganta United Methodist Hospital for immediate medical evaluation.
Officers of the Liberia National Police, Nimba Detachment, responded to the scene, documented evidence, and urged calm as investigations continue. Police are treating the case as child abandonment and have appealed for public assistance in identifying the mother.
Gender Ministry Steps In, Hope for the Nation Provides Shelter
Following intervention by the Ministry of Gender, Women, and Children’s Social Protection, the infant has been placed in the temporary care of Hope for the Nation, a Ganta-based child protection organization.
The group will provide shelter, medical oversight, and protection while authorities work to locate the child’s biological parents.
Residents of 404 Community expressed relief at the swift response. “We were heartbroken last night, but seeing the baby safe today gives us hope,” said one community member who assisted in the rescue.
Sunday’s incident is the latest in a troubling pattern of newborn abandonments reported across Nimba County between late 2025 and early 2026.
In December 2025, a newborn girl was found alive on a porch in Ganta’s LPMC Community and taken to Ganta United Methodist Hospital. In early 2026, another infant was discovered in a cassava farm within Ganta.
Local reports cite additional newborns found near bushes and water sources county-wide. While community intervention has saved several infants, some cases have ended in fatalities.
The Liberia National Police has consistently classified these incidents as criminal matters involving child endangerment. Investigations remain active, but few cases have resulted in identified suspects.
The recurrence of abandonments has intensified public concern over child welfare gaps in the region. Advocates point to economic hardship, lack of maternal health services, limited access to family planning, and stigma around unplanned pregnancies as contributing factors.
Local NGOs and county officials are urging stronger social support systems, including safe haven policies, expanded access to prenatal care, and community education programs.
“This is not just a police issue,” said a representative from Hope for the Nation. “We need prevention. Mothers in crisis need options that don’t end with a child in the bush.”
The LNP Nimba Detachment reiterated its call for anyone with information on Sunday’s incident or previous cases to come forward. The investigation remains open.
Residents say the poor economy, widespread hardship, and a high rate of teenage motherhood are driving newborn abandonment. They pointed to inadequate reproductive education and limited access to family planning as key factors.
Ganta City, a commercial hub in Nimba County, is experiencing rapid population growth that has left many women and girls vulnerable. A number live on the streets, and some turn to sex work to survive, which often leads to unplanned pregnancies and newborn abandonment.
