What began as a mother’s quiet suspicion about her children’s constant sleepiness has turned into one of the most shocking child abuse cases in East Legon this year.
Two domestic nannies, Francisca Boakye, a 30-year-old student nurse, and Harriet Ansah, aged 31, have been arrested by the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Airport Divisional Police Command for allegedly drugging the two-year-old twins left in their care.
The children’s mother, a 40-year-old businesswoman, reportedly began to worry when her normally energetic toddlers started appearing unusually drowsy and detached. After weeks of observation, her worst fears were confirmed, the caregivers had allegedly been mixing a sleep-inducing substance into the children’s milk.
“They said it helped the children sleep longer so they could have time to rest and handle chores,” Superintendent Juliana Obeng, spokesperson for the Ghana Police Service, revealed at a briefing.
Police sources say the suspects had been working in the household for about eight months. During interrogation, Ansah allegedly confessed to learning the habit from her colleague and admitted to other cruel acts, including hitting the children and calling them demeaning names like chimpanzee.
A police search recovered sachets of the substance believed to have been used to sedate the toddlers. The items have been sent for forensic testing while the two suspects remain in custody. Their next court appearance is scheduled for October 20, 2025.
The Greater Accra Regional Command has described the incident as “an inhumane betrayal of trust,” urging parents to pay closer attention to domestic workers.
“This case is a painful reminder that vigilance is the first protection for our children,” Superintendent Obeng warned.
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