The Ghana Police Service has rescued two child trafficking victims and arrested an additional suspect believed to be part of a child trafficking syndicate operating across multiple regions in Ghana.
The latest suspect, identified as Lucinda Naomi Otchere, a midwife in charge of the Maternity and Labour Ward at Trust Mother and Child Hospital at Osu, was arrested for her alleged role in the trafficking network.
According to preliminary police investigations, Lucinda Naomi Otchere allegedly received a missing 7-year-old girl from suspect Janet Larbi after an amount of ¢20,000 was reportedly paid to facilitate the transaction.
Investigators further revealed that the suspect allegedly gave an additional ¢35,000 to Janet Larbi and instructed her to send another victim, a 5-year-old girl, to a couple living at Pokuase.
Police say intelligence gathered so far suggests the syndicate may have been involved in child trafficking activities for a considerable period.
The latest development follows an earlier operation by the Central East Regional Police Command, during which six suspects, Grace Osei Afriyie, Regina Agyeiwaa, Janet Larbi, Mary Dotsey, Yvonne Twumasi, and Seikena Umar, were arrested over child trafficking and child stealing offences.
The investigations began after the Kasoa Divisional Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) received a complaint on April 10, 2026, regarding the disappearance of 7-year-old Kadija Karim in Kasoa.
Police investigations established that Kadija Karim was allegedly lured away by suspects Janet Larbi and Seikena Umar under the pretext of taking her to visit her biological mother.
The child was reportedly taken to an undisclosed location and kept in the custody of another woman before later being returned to Kasoa and warned not to reveal what had happened.
Further investigations linked the suspects to another child theft case involving a 10-month-old infant and a 5-year-old girl, who were allegedly taken from their mother under the guise of caring for them.
Police say the 10-month-old infant was later traced to the Ashanti Region, where the child had allegedly been sold to suspects Grace Osei Afriyie and Regina Agyeiwaa for ¢35,000.
The infant has since been rescued and reunited with the parents, while 7-year-old Kadija Karim has also been rescued safely.
However, the 5-year-old girl believed to have been sent to Pokuase is still missing.
The Ghana Police Service is now appealing to the couple believed to be holding the child near Agya Herbal at Pokuase to voluntarily hand over the child to the nearest police station or immediately contact the police to support ongoing investigations.
So far, five suspects have been remanded into custody, while suspect Grace Osei Afriyie has been granted court bail.
The case has been adjourned to Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the Ofaakor Circuit Court.
Police say efforts are ongoing to arrest all remaining accomplices connected to the trafficking syndicate.
Members of the public with information about suspects still at large or the whereabouts of the missing child are being urged to contact the nearest police station or call emergency numbers 191 or 112.
Authorities assure the public that all information received will be treated with strict confidentiality.
By Peter Quao Adattor/paqmediagh
