TWO NANNIES ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY ADMINISTERING SLEEP-INDUCING SUBSTANCES TO TWO-YEAR-OLD TWINS AT EAST LEGON

The Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Airport Divisional Police Command in Accra has arrested two nannies for allegedly administering sleep-inducing substances to their employer’s two-year-old twin sons at East Legon, a suburb of Accra.

The suspects have been identified as Francisca Boakye, 30, a student nurse from Konongo in the Ashanti Region, and Harriet Ansah, 31, from Jasikan in the Oti Region.

According to police reports, the complainant, a 41-year-old businesswoman, lodged a complaint after noticing persistent drowsiness and unusual behavioral changes in her children during September 2025. Concerned about the situation, she took the twins to the hospital for medical evaluation, where further inquiries revealed that the nannies had allegedly been administering an unknown substance to the children without her consent.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspects had been mixing sleep-inducing drugs with the children’s meals to keep them asleep for prolonged periods, allegedly to enable them to attend to other household duties.

During interrogation, Harriet Ansah reportedly admitted to the act, claiming she had adopted the practice from her colleague, Francisca Boakye. She further confessed to other abusive behaviors, including burning the children’s hands with fire and calling them derogatory names. Both suspects had been employed by the complainant for over eight months.

A search conducted in the suspects’ room led to the discovery of two used and four unused trays of sachet-packed substances suspected to have been used in the alleged acts. The police have retained all exhibits for forensic examination.

The two suspects have been charged with the appropriate offenses and remanded into police custody. They are scheduled to reappear before court on October 20, 2025.

The Accra Regional Police Command has condemned the incident, describing it as an act of cruelty and a grave violation of child rights. The Command has also urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant in monitoring the activities of domestic staff to ensure the safety and well-being of their children.

Further updates on the case will be provided as investigations progress.