The CEO of Medicas Hospital, Dr Yaw Osafo, has advised parents to conduct thorough background checks on nannies and caregivers before employment.

His comments come amid the arrest of two nannies for allegedly drugging their employers’ twin toddlers.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Desk programme on Thursday, October 9, Dr Osafo said parents must take proactive steps to protect their homes and children.

“As parents, you must have eyes at the back of your head and in front. Literally, we shouldn’t take certain things for granted anymore — the world has changed. Before you bring nannies or carers into your home, please do a background check, possibly a police background check,” he advised.

He stressed that in today’s world, safety starts with smart choices and technology.

“You must have certain things at home — have CCTV cameras at home. Even though you are not there, you must have eyes. This means you can have these things on your phone, so as parents we all have to take active steps to prevent it from happening,” he said.

Dr Osafo further cautioned parents about leaving medicines carelessly around the house, as they can be misused.

“Make sure you don’t keep medicines at home. If you have to keep medicines at home, keep them locked up. When you come back home, also be smart and check certain things. You have a nanny; go into their rooms, because when the police did the search, I think they found drugs. So as parents, we have to be detectives — that’s how it starts,” he warned.

The Medicas boss emphasised that background checks, household monitoring, and alertness are essential tools for modern parenting.

Dr Osafo emphasised that while hiring help is sometimes necessary, parents must combine trust with active supervision to ensure their children’s safety.

Background

The Airport Divisional Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Accra arrested the two suspects — Francisca Boakye, a 30-year-old student nurse, and Harriet Ansah, 31 — after the children’s mother filed a complaint in September 2025.

She reported that her two-year-old twin boys had shown unusual drowsiness and strange behaviour over a period. Police investigations later revealed that the nannies allegedly mixed sleep-inducing substances into the children’s milk to keep them asleep for longer hours.

A search conducted in their rooms uncovered sachets of the suspected substances, which have been sent for forensic testing.

The suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to appear in court on October 20.