A statement signed by the Information Minister, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah is indicating that the National Security Operative has on Wednesday morning rescued two Canadian nationals who were kidnapped in the Ashanti region last week.
“National Security Operatives in the early hours of Wednesday 12 June, 2019 completed an operation which successfully rescued the two Canadian women which were recently abducted in the Ashanti Region,” the statement read.
The two, students aged 19 and 20, who have been working as volunteers for a charity were seized on Tuesday evening outside their apartment in the Ahodwo district and bundled into a car, police said.
The duo were reportedly rescued on Wednesday morning in a suburb of Kumasi by a police SWAT team, Rite 90.1 FM has learnt.
It is gathered that the driver of the vehicle used for the kidnapping, a mechanic and one other person have since been arrested and are assisting the security agencies to unravel the identity of the others. Inside source disclosed that the two victims are safe.
The government has also scheduled a press briefing 3:00pm this afternoon to pronounce government effort pursuing to resolve similar incidents in the country.
“Details of the operation and ongoing effort to ensure similar incidents are successfully resolved will be made available in a subsequent press briefing scheduled for 15:00 hours today.”
The full statement from Government
Canadian nationals in Ghana have been warned of violent crimes in the country including armed robbery and kidnapping and urged not to show any signs of wealth.
In a tweet by the Canadian government on Thursday June 6, 2019 sighted by Rite FM reads “#Ghana: violent crimes, including armed robbery and kidnapping, may occur. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid walking alone or displaying signs of wealth. Ensure that windows and doors in your residence are secured”
A team of Canadian security experts have arrived in the country, Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi to help find two kidnapped nationals.
The High Commissioner, Heather Cameron who led a delegation to Kumasi a day after the two women were kidnapped, served notice experts would be brought from abroad to support investigations.
It is also gathered that officials of Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) backed by armed police officers on Tuesday closed down a hotel in Kumasi where the two kidnapped Canadian volunteers lodged before their abduction.
According to the GTA officials, the hotel which has no name situated at Ahodwo near the Golf Park operated without a license and lacked standard security system including CCTV cameras a situation that exposed clients to all forms of attacks.
Source: ritefmonline.org
