Kidnappings Back in Ghana Again?

8 people from different parts of Ghana were reported missing across weeks with little news about their whereabouts. 

This has raised public concern about the re-emergence of kidnappings for ritual and other negative motives experienced by Ghana some time past. 

There is growing public concern about the number of persons reported missing in different parts of the country in recent times.

The missing persons include children, middle-aged persons and sometimes the aged.

In the past when people go missing, in some cases, the missing persons have been found alive and healthy, while others were found dead from what looks like manhandling by supposed kidnappers or ritualists. 

In the case of  Paulina Lamisi who is opposition National Democratic Congress for Tema West, She left home 12th June 2024 and since then has not returned. All means of reaching her has been futile.

Her missing no case is similar to several cases of missing persons recorded in April, May and in June this week across Ghana. 

In 2021, The Bureau for Public Safety called on the public to be vigilant in the wake of rising cases of missing persons in the country. It appears the matter has gotten worse since. 

According to the organization, the safety measures put in place by the immediate family of vulnerable people could save them from falling victims.

The Executive Director of the Bureau of Public Safety, Nana Yaw Akwada, called on the police to quicken investigations into such cases.

He said families must be careful in how they handle the situation to avoid jeopardizing the police’s investigations.

“The phenomenon of missing persons appears to be an emerging threat among the vulnerable population, especially the aged and the children. In most cases, there is the need to contact family and friends first as most studies in recent times have shown that a lot of the cases of missing persons actually turn out to be willful absences. So relatives of missing persons must contact the police as soon as possible, engage the community as well and be advised that if you have to use the media don’t hesitate to do it,” he said.