Two nannies accused of drugging twin toddlers granted GH¢100k bail

Two nannies accused of sedating their employer’s twin toddlers with sleep-inducing drugs have appeared before the District Court in Accra.

The suspects — 30-year-old unemployed Francisca Boakye and 31-year-old nanny Harriet Ansah — are facing two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and four counts of causing harm. Both pleaded not guilty.

The court granted them bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 each, with two sureties justified by landed property. They are scheduled to reappear on 27 November 2025.

According to prosecutors, the complainant, a businesswoman living at East Legon, had employed the two women as live-in nannies.

However, on 20 September 2025, Harriet allegedly sent the family's non-residential driver, Emmanuel Koranteng, to buy a half crate of eggs and GH¢5 worth of Dynell tablets (4mg) from a nearby pharmacy.
Koranteng, familiar with the drug’s sedative effects, reportedly became suspicious and questioned her intention, but she refused to explain.

He later claimed Harriet confided in him, saying the twins were difficult to handle and did not sleep well. She allegedly admitted to crushing the tablets into their food daily to make them eat and sleep more easily — without their mother’s knowledge.

Harriet is said to have claimed that Francisca introduced her to the practice after working with the complainant previously.

Koranteng informed the children’s mother, who filed a report with police. A medical form was issued and the twins were taken for treatment at the Police Hospital.

Investigators say CCTV footage from the residence showed Harriet subjecting the toddlers to inhumane treatment.

Harriet was arrested and, in her statement, confirmed the allegations and implicated Francisca. A search in Harriet’s room reportedly uncovered two used and four unused trays of Dynewell tablets (4mg), which were seized and forwarded to the Food and Drugs Authority for analysis.

Francisca was later arrested and also admitted to the offence in her caution statement.

The matter has been referred to the Circuit Court at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) Headquarters, where further proceedings are expected on 27 November.