The Ghana Police Service has arrested another suspect in an ongoing child trafficking investigation that has already resulted in the rescue of two children, while security agencies intensify efforts to locate a missing five year old girl believed to be in the custody of unidentified individuals.
Addressing the media on the latest developments, Lydia Yaako Donkor, Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department and Commissioner of Police, disclosed that the latest suspect, Lucinda Naomi Otchere, was apprehended over her alleged involvement in the criminal network.
According to investigators, Otchere, who serves as a midwife overseeing the maternity and labour ward at Trust Mother and Child Hospital, allegedly received a missing seven year old girl from another suspect identified as Janet Larbie after reportedly paying GH¢20,000 to facilitate the transaction.
Police further alleged that the suspect later made an additional payment of GH¢35,000 to Janet Larbie and subsequently instructed her to transfer another missing five year old girl to a couple residing in Pokuase.
Commissioner Donkor stated that intelligence gathered throughout the investigation strongly suggests the syndicate has allegedly been involved in organised child trafficking activities over an extended period.
The latest arrest follows an earlier operation conducted by the Central East Regional Police Command, during which six suspects namely Grace Osei Afriyie, Regina Agyeiwaa, Janet Larbie, Mary Dotsey, Yvonne Twumasi, and Seikena Umar were arrested in connection with allegations of child trafficking and child stealing.
Investigations commenced after the Kasoa Division of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit received a complaint on April 10, 2026, concerning the disappearance of seven year old Kadija Karim in Kasoa.
According to police findings, the child was allegedly lured away by Janet Larbie and Seikena Umar under the pretext of taking her to visit her biological mother. Investigators said she was later transported to an undisclosed destination and kept under the supervision of another woman before eventually being returned to Kasoa with instructions not to reveal what had occurred.
Further inquiries later connected the suspects to another case involving a 10 month old infant together with the still missing five year old girl. Authorities alleged that both children were taken from their mother under the guise of receiving temporary care and protection.
Police subsequently traced the 10 month old infant to the Ashanti Region, where investigators say the child had allegedly been sold to two suspects for GH¢35,000. The infant has since been rescued and successfully reunited with the biological parents, while Kadija Karim has also been safely recovered.
However, authorities confirmed that the five year old girl reportedly sent to Pokuase remains missing, with investigators continuing an extensive search operation to determine her whereabouts.
The Ghana Police Service has therefore appealed directly to the couple believed to be in custody of the child to voluntarily surrender her at the nearest police station or cooperate with investigators to facilitate her safe recovery.
Police further disclosed that five of the suspects currently remain on remand while ongoing investigations seek to identify and apprehend additional accomplices connected to the trafficking network.
Members of the public possessing information regarding the whereabouts of the missing child or any other suspects still at large have been urged to immediately contact the nearest police station or call emergency numbers 191 or 112 to support ongoing rescue and investigative efforts.
