A 56 year old nurse and former Caregiver at Happy Bloomers School, at Agbogba in Accra, Clara Yanzu-Ampah, has been sentenced to five years in prison, for the death of an eleven-month-old baby in May 2021. Her sentencing follows a plea bargaining agreement, with the Office of the Attorney-General, where she pleaded guilty for manslaughter. The convict had earlier pleaded not guilty but changed her plea after the agreement.
Clara Yanzu-Ampah was arrested in May 18, 2021 after causing the death of the eleven month-old baby girl. She was responsible for the deceased baby and two other babies at the school. The deceased was reportedly enrolled at the school in April 2021 and on the day of the incident, the baby reportedly went to school healthy. The facts, detailed that at about 2:50pm another teacher at the school passed through the changing room and found the baby unresponsive, when she tried playing with her, whilst her caregiver, Clara Yanzu-Ampah, was changing her clothes. The teacher, then asked Madam Yanzu- Ampah, who was then attending to the baby, if she was asleep and she responded in the negative. The teacher is said to have immediately informed the administrator of the school who rushed the baby to the North Legon Hospital. The Medical report indicated that the baby was unresponsive with no heartbeat or pulse. The baby was pronounced clinically dead, after efforts to resuscitate her, failed. A review of a CCTV footage later obtained from the school, captured how Clara Yanzu-Ampah, pulled the hands of the baby to her back and forcefully poured food down the deceased’s throat with a cup. Post-mortem examination revealed that the deceased baby’s trachea, bronchi and left lungs were filled with food particles and indicated the cause of death as asphyxiation due to aspiration of food. While handing down the sentence, Justice Marie-Louise Simmons said she considered the eight months Madam Yanzu-Ampah, spent in custody prior to her release on bail. Justice Simmons, also considered the benefit of the plea deal which she said, shortened the trial and reduced the burden on both Prosecution and the Court. The court also ruled that the convict was remorseful and also noted that the Clara Yanzu-Ampah’s indifference, after feeding the baby until the other teacher found her unresponsive is a reckless disregard for human life and therefore sentenced her to a reduced sentence of five years imprisonment, under her plea bargaining agreement with the State.
