The Airport Divisional Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Accra has arrested two nannies for allegedly administering sleep-inducin
The Airport Divisional Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Accra has arrested two nannies for allegedly administering sleep-inducing substances to twin toddlers in their care.
According to Superintendent Juliana Obeng, Head of the Public Affairs Unit, during a press briefing, the suspects, Francisca Boakye, 30, a student nurse from Konongo in the Ashanti Region, and Harriet Ansah, 31, from Jasikan in the Oti Region, were arrested after the mother of the children, a 40-year-old businesswoman, filed a complaint in September 2025.
The mother reported observing unusual drowsiness and behavioural changes in her two-year-old twin boys over a prolonged period.
Her concerns prompted further enquiries, which revealed a disturbing pattern: the nannies had allegedly been administering an unidentified sleep-inducing substance suspected to be mixed into the children’s milk without the mother’s knowledge or consent.
“They claim the substance made the children sleep for extended hours so they could attend to other household chores,” Superintendent Obeng stated during the briefing.
Further police investigations uncovered that Harriet Ansah admitted to the act and claimed she learned the practice from her colleague, Francisca Boakye.
In a disturbing revelation, Harriet Ansah reportedly confessed to subjecting the twin toddlers to additional forms of abuse, including hitting their heads with fire and calling them derogatory names such as “chimpanzee.”
Police investigations further revealed that Ansah had been employed by the complainant for the past eight months. A search of the suspects’ living quarters led to the discovery of two used sachets and four unused sachets containing substances believed to have been used in the alleged offenses.
Superintendent Juliana Obeng said the retrieved items have been kept as evidence and forwarded for forensic analysis.
The two suspects have since been cautioned and charged with the relevant offenses. They remain in police custody and are expected to reappear before court on October 20, 2025.
The Greater Accra Regional Police Command has condemned the alleged acts, describing them as “deplorable and unacceptable.”
“We urge all parents and guardians to be extra vigilant in supervising domestic staff, particularly those responsible for children and other vulnerable individuals,” Superintendent Obeng advised.
Police say further updates will be shared as investigations progress.