The Ghana Police Service has arrested an additional suspect in an ongoing child trafficking investigation that has already resulted in the rescue of two children.
The latest suspect, identified as Lucinda Naomi Otchere, a midwife and head of the maternity and labour ward at Trust Mother and Child Hospital in Osu, is alleged to have played a role in a wider trafficking network under investigation.
According to police, preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect allegedly received a missing seven-year-old girl from another suspect, Janet Larbi, and paid GH¢20,000 to facilitate the transaction.
Investigators further allege that Lucinda Naomi Otchere later gave an additional GH¢35,000 to Janet Larbi and instructed her to send another child, a five-year-old girl, to a couple believed to be residing at Pokuase.
Police say intelligence gathered so far indicates that the syndicate has been operating for a considerable period, with multiple related cases under active investigation.
The arrest follows earlier operations by the Central East Regional Police Command, which led to the detention of six other suspects Grace Osei Afriyie, Regina Agyeiwaa, Janet Larbi, Mary Dotse, Yvonne Twumasi, and Sakina Omar in connection with child trafficking and child stealing offences.
Investigations began after a complaint was lodged with the Kasoa Divisional Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit on April 10, 2026, regarding the disappearance of seven-year-old Khadija Karim in Kasoa.
Police say inquiries established that the child was allegedly lured by Janet Larbi and Sakina Omar under the pretext of taking her to meet her biological mother. She was reportedly taken to an undisclosed location before later being returned to Kasoa and warned not to disclose the incident.
Further investigations also linked the suspects to another case involving the alleged theft of a 10-month-old infant and a five-year-old girl, reportedly taken from their mother under the guise of providing care.
The infant was later traced to the Ashanti Region, where police say she was allegedly sold to Grace Osei Afriyie and Regina Agyeiwaa for GH¢35,000. She has since been rescued and reunited with her biological family.
Khadija Karim has also been safely rescued, however, the five-year-old girl allegedly sent to Pokuase remains missing.
The Police Service has appealed to a couple believed to be holding the child in the Pokuase Agya Herbal area to voluntarily surrender the child to the nearest police station or contact the police immediately.
According to authorities, five suspects are currently on remand, while Grace Osei Afriyie has been granted bail. The case is expected to continue at the Ofankor Circuit Court on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
Police say efforts are ongoing to arrest all remaining accomplices linked to the alleged trafficking network and have urged the public to provide information that may assist investigations.
