Massive hunt for kidnapped Canadian Ladies

THE POLICE in the Ashanti Region have commenced a massive hunt to apprehend those behind the abduction and kidnapping of two Canadian women at gun-point in Kumasi on Tuesday evening.

The two women were said to be in the Ashanti regional capital for an educational programme when they went missing.

They were reportedly whisked into a waiting car, which sped off to an unknown location.

The motive of the kidnappers could not be established as at the time of filing this story, but reports say the pair (names withheld) are volunteers with Youth Challenge International, an NGO, and that they were abducted outside their apartment.

So far, Canadian authorities say the Ghanaian police are tight-lipped over the incident. They say a woman who answered the Ghana Police Service press telephone number told the Post “we don’t have any information right now.”

“The Government of Canada’s first priority is always the safety and security of its citizens,” said an email from Global Affairs spokesman Guillaume Bérubé. “For this reason, we will not comment on or release any information which may compromise ongoing efforts or endanger the safety of Canadians.”

But Ghana’s High Commissioner to Canada, Joseph Ayikoi Otoo, is reported to have disclosed that he had spoken with the Director-General of police in Ghana and had been informed that authorities are working hard to find the ladies.

This is the latest in a series of kidnappings in the country. In April, an Indian businessman was abducted at gunpoint in Kumasi and a ransom demanded. Before that, an Estonian consular-general was reportedly abducted while out on his morning walk. Both men were either rescued by police, or escaped.

Unconfirmed reports, however, say an Uber driver has been arrested in Kumasi in connection with the kidnapping of the two Canadian women.