Two nannies have been arrested in East Legon by the Airport Divisional Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) for allegedly drugging twin toddlers in their care.
The suspects, identified as Francisca Boakye, 30, a student nurse from Konongo in the Ashanti Region, and Harriet Ansah, 31, from Jasikan in the Oti Region, are accused of administering an unidentified sleep-inducing substance to the two-year-old boys over an extended period without their mother’s knowledge.
Superintendent Juliana Obeng, Head of the Public Affairs Unit, confirmed the arrests during a press briefing on Monday.
She said the case came to light after the children’s mother, a 40-year-old businesswoman, lodged a complaint in September upon noticing unusual drowsiness and changes in the toddlers’ behaviour.
“Further enquiries revealed that the nannies had allegedly been mixing a sleep-inducing substance into the children’s milk to make them sleep for long hours, so they could attend to other household chores,” Superintendent Obeng stated.
According to police, Harriet Ansah admitted to the practice and claimed she had learned it from her colleague, Francisca Boakye. Ansah also confessed to subjecting the children to additional forms of abuse, including hitting their heads with fire and calling them derogatory names such as “chimpanzee.”
Ansah had reportedly been employed by the complainant for the past eight months.
A police search of the suspects’ living quarters led to the recovery of two used sachets and four unused sachets containing substances suspected to be linked to the offences. These items have been sent for forensic analysis.
Both suspects have been cautioned and charged with offences relating to the crime. They remain in police custody and are scheduled to reappear before court on October 20, 2025.
The Greater Accra Regional Police Command has condemned the alleged actions, describing them as “deplorable and unacceptable.”
“We urge all parents and guardians to be extra vigilant in the supervision of domestic staff, especially those left in charge of vulnerable persons such as children,” Superintendent Obeng added.
The police say investigations are ongoing and further updates will be provided in due course.
