Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has commented on the case of the Takoradi missing girls, saying government is not sleeping on the matter as being perceived.
“On the issue of the missing Takoradi girls, I want to assure you that we are not sleeping on it but the government and security agencies are doing everything possible to ensure that the girls are reunited with their respective families,” he assured.
The whereabouts of the three missing Takoradi girls – Ruthlove Quayson, Priscilla Blessing Bentum and Priscilla Koranchie – who were kidnapped between August and December 2018 are still a mystery several months after the issue gained national prominence.
Addressing the chiefs and people of Axim in the Nzema East Municipality of the Western Region during a two-day working visit, the President said, “The fact that not much information has been out in the public domain does not mean that the government or security agencies are not working hard to ensure their safe return to their families.”
He described those behind the kidnappings as “wicked criminals” and said “the government is working vigorously to rescue the girls.”
He pointed out that government would not sit aloof for something untoward to happen to any Ghanaian. “We are not sleeping on this issue,” he added.
Reacting to the President’s comments in an interview with journalists, Michael Koranchie, brother of Priscilla Koranchie, one of the kidnapped girls, said the President’s comments were reassuring.
“Since the incident happened, we have not heard the President speak about it so we were relieved with his statement and we are hoping that the police and other security agencies will work hard to find the girls.
“Initially, we thought the government was doing little but the President’s statement indicating government’s commitment to the fight to bring the girls back is a positive one,” he admitted.
The Two Suspects
Meanwhile, the Sekondi High Court, presided over by Justice Hanna Taylor, on Wednesday adjourned the case for the second time against Samuel Udoetuk Wills and John Oji, the suspects in the case.
The adjournment of the case followed a plea by the State Attorney, Adelaide Kobire Woode that she had difficulty meeting the two accused who were being kept separately.
She indicated that the two – Will and Oji – were kept at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons and the CID head office in Accra respectively, and that she needed to gather information to amend the charge sheet for the case to proceed.
Samuel Udoetuk Wills had already been sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for escaping from cells in December 2018 following his arrest.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Axim