Lauren Patricia Catherine Tilley and Bailey Jordan Chittey
Lauren Patricia Catherine Tilley, 19 and her compatriot, Bailey Jordan Chittey, 20, who were recently kidnapped in Kumasi, landed in Canada to their anxious parents and well wishers via a private aircraft arranged by their home government.
The journey took them through London’s Heathrow after flying from Accra via British Airways. What a relief it was for the freed ladies when they eventually landed in Rothesay and Amherst respectively.
Social media enabled those interested in the issue to follow the mood of the family and indeed the freed ladies.
Bailey’s mother, a health worker with the Cumberland Health Authority, expressed her emotion without bars. “Today we celebrate Love Wins” stood prominently in her expression on Facebook.
Chitty’s hometown was infected with the exciting news of her rescue having become an international affair.
The local people have been relishing the moments as evidenced from the interview with Aaron Stubbert, the headmaster of Amherst Regional High School, when he said, “We’re happy and overjoyed and excited and glad it turned out the way it did…”
In his excitement, Joe van Vulpen, deputy warden of Cumberland County, explained the two words “Loves Wins”, adding “love and hope and prayers came to fruition.”
Ghana was on the spotlight for the period that they remained in captivity when security agents and indeed Ghanaians didn’t know their whereabouts. It was the first time that the country was experiencing an international kidnap story on its soil. Therefore, government and the security agencies were pushed to the wall.
When the Col Michael Opoku- led operation – following accurate intelligence – made contact with the ‘enemies’ and cracked the conundrum successfully, there was a sigh of relief not only in Ghana but also by Canadians who naturally showed interest in the subject.
The grenade and quantity of ammunition found at the crime scene was enough evidence about how things could have taken a disturbing turn but for providence.
By A.R. Gomda