COP Frank Adu-Poku (rtd)
Continuous Investigations by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) into the baby harvesting led by some unscrupulous medical officers have led to the discovery of two more children sold to two different women.
One of the babies, over just a year, was allegedly “acquired” from Susan Clinic near Flamingo Junction in Accra which is a private clinic of Dr. Hope Quarshie Mensah, one of the medical professionals being investigated.
The second baby is now two years old and was found in the custody of one Nancy Obaayaa Frempong, one of the suspects in the case.
It adds to four, the number of babies discovered since the baby harvesting syndicated was busted early this year through the efforts of the EOCO in collaboration with the Medical and Dental Council (MDC).
Discovering Two Babies
The Executive Director of the EOCO, COP Frank Adu- Poku (Rtd), briefing the media yesterday said they got a tip-off from a taxi driver and followed up the lead.
He said the taxi driver told them he picked two ladies to Dr. Quarshie Mensah’s Susan Clinic to pick up a newly born baby he believed was sold to the women in February 2020.
He said EOCO investigations led to the arrest of Florence Acquah and Eleanor Nsiah Ofori (the so-called adoptee), who were Ghanaians based in the USA, while another identified as Aku Elevu, a nanny of the baby, was currently at large.
Narrating the role each of the suspects played, the EOCO Boss said suspects Eleanor and Florence were friends and worked as Home Help Aid in the US.
“In one of their conversations, Eleanor told Florence, her intention was to come to Ghana to adopt a child, and Florence who had contacts with Dr. Mensah of Susan Clinic contacted him to help them get a baby.”
Contacting Suspects
In February 4, 2020, Dr. Mensah contacted Florence to inform her friend that he had a baby girl for adoption.
Eleanor, according to the EOCO Boss, then sent Florence who was then in the country to go with the nanny to the clinic for the child.
He said Dr. Mensah charged the adoptee GH¢30,000 but suspect Florence made part payment of $2,500 dollars before collecting the baby, the EOCO Boss said.
“It was then agreed that the balance be paid when Eleanor arrived in the country,” he added.
Returning to Ghana
He continued that Eleanor, returned to Ghana somewhere December 2020, to finalize documentation to enable her to travel with her newly “acquired” baby who was then in the care of the nanny, but upon her return, financial disagreement ensured between the two (Eleanor and the Nanny) resulting in the nanny’s appointment being terminated.
“Officials of EOCO apprehended both women at their residence at Manet in Ogbojo, while they were preparing to abscond with the child to Agona Swedru,” the EOCO Boss said.
Touching on the fourth baby, COP Adu-Poku (rtd), said EOCO was processing a court order for a DNA to be carried out on the baby and the supposed mother and father to ascertain the true identity of the child.
Petitions received
The EOCO Boss said six persons had filed petitions to his office for investigations to be conducted into circumstances that led to the disappearance of their babies.
Two of the claimants, he said, filed the petitions against Dr. Mensah’s Susan Clinic, whilst the others filed theirs from Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and Ridge Hospital, all in Accra.
The mothers, according EOCO Executive Director, claimed they were just told their babies had died by doctors responsible for their deliveries, but were never showed the dead bodies of the babies.
They all claimed that the babies were well but within a few hours in each case, they were told the babies had died even though they were all not allowed to see the “bodies.”
Initial Arrests
On January 20, the EOCO and the MDC announced at a joint news conference that they had been able to smash a baby harvesting syndicate and said two medical doctors, four nurses and four others were being investigated for the illegal activity.
They identified the doctors were given as Dr. Quarshie of the 37 Military Hospital in Accra and Dr. Noah Kofi Lartey of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Ridge, Accra.
The nurses were also identified as Sylvia Awuseh, John Adorey Effie, Angela Ametepe and Stella Deli.
Similarly, Leonard Agbley and Doris Badu, both social workers, as well as Ms. Anikpi were arrested.
A lady called Nancy Obaa Yaa, believed to be a mother of one of the babies, was also in trouble and was also picked up late last year.
Two of the babies, whose “harvesting” triggered the EOCO and MDC investigation, are currently safe in the custody of the authorities.
The EOCO Boss said all the suspects were on bail and the dockets are being sent to the Attorney General’s (AG’s) Department for advice.
He said EOCO had preferred preliminary charges including human trafficking, money laundering, conspiracy, operating a health facility without licence, deceit of public officer and concealment of body pending the decision of the AG’s Department.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey