Two nannies arrested for allegedly giving drugs to two toddlers in East Legon

The Airport Divisional Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Accra has arrested two nannies for allegedly giving a sleep-inducing substances to twin toddlers in their care.

During a press briefing, the Head of the Public Affairs Unit, Superintendent Juliana Obeng, said that, the two arrested nannies, Harriet Ansah, 31, from Jasikan in the Oti Region, and Francisca Boakye, 30, who is a a student nurse from Konongo in the Ashanti Region, were taken to the police custody after the mother of the children, a 40-year-old businesswoman, made an official complaint in September 2025.

The mother noticed unusual sleepiness and behavioural changes in her two-year-old twin boys over a long period of time. Her worries led to more investigation, which reveled something alarming was going on. It was revealed that the two nannies arrested had allegedly been giving a sleep medicine of unknown kind which is suspected to be mixed into the children’s milk without the mother’s knowledge or consent.

In the course of the press briefing, the superintendent Juliana Obeng said “They claim the substance made the children sleep for extended hours so they could attend to other household chores,” The police further investigation revealed that, one of the two nannies arrested, Harriet Ansah,  from Jasikan in the Oti Region, said they did it and added that she learned the practice from her colleague, Francisca Boakye.

Harriet Ansah also revealed that she had mistreated the children in other ways by striking their heads with fire and calling them some hurtful names such as “chimpanzee“.

The accused has reportedly been employed by the complainant since eight months ago. Two used sachets and four unused sachets were retrieved containing substances believed to have been used in the alleged offences after a search of the suspects’ place of residence was conducted.

The Greater Accra Regional Police Command has strongly spoke out against the abuse the children suffered, describing the alleged actions by the two nannies arrested as “deplorable and unacceptable”.

Superintendent Obeng declared that “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.” The police has given the public assurance that that more information will be provided as the investigation continues.