The Ghana Police Service has arrested a midwife at the Trust Mother and Child Hospital over her alleged involvement in an ongoing child trafficking syndicate investigation.
The suspect, identified as Lucinda Naomi Otchere, is the officer in charge of the maternity and labour ward at the hospital located in Osu.
According to police, preliminary investigations indicate that she allegedly received a missing seven-year-old girl from another suspect, Janet Larbie, and reportedly paid GH¢20,000 to facilitate the transaction.
Police further alleged that she later paid an additional GH¢35,000 and instructed Janet Larbie to send another victim, a five-year-old girl, to a couple residing at Pokuase.
Investigators believe the syndicate has been involved in child trafficking activities for a considerable period.
The latest arrest follows an earlier operation by the Central East Regional Police Command, which led to the arrest of six suspects over child trafficking and child stealing offences.
The suspects were identified as Grace Osei-Effie, Regina Ejewa, Janet Larbie, Mary Doce, Yvonne Chumessy and Sekina Umar.
Police said investigations began after the Kasoa Divisional Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) received a complaint on April 10, 2026, regarding the disappearance of a seven-year-old girl, Khadija Karim, at Kasoa.
Investigations established that the child was allegedly lured by Janet Larbie and Sekina Umar under the pretext of taking her to see her biological mother.
The victim was reportedly taken to an undisclosed location before later being returned to Kasoa and warned not to disclose the incident.
Further investigations linked the suspects to another case involving a 10-month-old baby and a five-year-old girl allegedly taken from their mother under the guise of caring for them.
Police said the 10-month-old infant was later traced to the Ashanti Region, where the child had allegedly been sold to Grace Osei-Effie and Regina Ejewa for GH¢35,000.
The infant has since been rescued and reunited with the parents, while Khadija Karim has also been rescued safely.
However, police say the five-year-old girl believed to have been sent to Pokuase is yet to be traced.
The Police Service is therefore appealing to the couple believed to be keeping the child at Pokuase near Ejisu to voluntarily hand over the girl to the nearest police station or contact investigators to assist with ongoing investigations.
According to police, five suspects are currently on remand, while Grace Osei-Effie has been granted court bail.
The case has been adjourned to May 13, 2026, at the Ofankor Circuit Court.
Police say efforts are ongoing to arrest all remaining accomplices connected to the syndicate.
