Accra: Two nannies accused of administering sleep-inducing drugs to their employer's twin toddlers have appeared before the District Court in Accra. Francisca Boakye, 30, and Harriet Ansah, 31, were charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and four counts of causing harm. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to Ghana News Agency, the court granted the nannies bail in the sum of GHS100,000 each, with two sureties justified with landed property. The two are set to reappear on November 27, 2025. The prosecution informed the court that the complainant, a businesswoman residing at East Legon, had employed the accused as residential nannies.
On September 20, 2025, Harriet allegedly sent Emmanuel Koranteng, a non-residential driver and a witness in the case, to purchase a half crate of eggs and GHS5 worth of Dynell tablets (4mg) from a nearby pharmacy. Koranteng, aware of the drug's side effects, questioned Harriet about its intended use, but she declined to respond, arousing his suspicion.
Harriet later confided in Koranteng, revealing that the complainant's children were difficult to manage and did not sleep well. She allegedly admitted to mixing the drugs into their food daily to improve their eating and sleeping habits, without the complainant's knowledge or consent. Harriet claimed to have learned this practice from Francisca, who had previously worked for the complainant.
Koranteng reported the matter to the complainant, who then informed the Police. A medical report form was issued for the children to receive treatment at the Police Hospital or any government facility. The prosecution also highlighted that Close Circuit Television footage from the complainant's residence showed Harriet subjecting the children to various forms of inhuman treatment.
Harriet was arrested and, in her caution statement, admitted to the offence and implicated Francisca as her accomplice. A search of Harriet's room led to the discovery of two used and four unused trays of Dynewell tablets (4mg), which were retained for evidence and sent to the Food and Drugs Authority, with the report still pending.
Francisca was subsequently arrested and admitted to the offence in her caution statement. The accused have been arraigned before a Circuit Court at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) Headquarters in Accra. The case has been adjourned to November 27, 2025, for further proceedings.
