In recent times, Ghana has witnessed a surge in the number of missing persons across the country.

The situation has sparked concern among the public, heightening calls for increased public vigilance and urgent action from the police.

This disturbing trend involves individuals of all ages, including children, youth, and the elderly. While some of these missing people are found, others remain missing, underscoring the urgent need to address this emerging public safety threat.

A recent report by Missing Ghana, a non-profit organization that works with the Ghana Police Service and Department of Social Welfare, stated that 610 people, mostly children, have been reported missing in Ghana since 2021.

Constance Mensah

The recent case involves a 15-year-old girl, Constance Mensah, who went missing in Kasoa Buduburam in the Central Region after she was punished by her family for coming home late after trimming her hair.

The incident was shared on Facebook by a social media influencer, James Annor Tetteh, popularly known as Nana Tea.

He said Constance had gone out to have a hair cut on Sunday, July 28, 2024, but returned home late, prompting her family to punish her.

According to her family, Constance took her school bag and some shoes with her, but they are unsure what clothing she was wearing.

“She went out on Sunday to trim her hair, came back late, and was punished for that. Then the next morning, they went to her room to call her to prepare for school, but she wasn’t there. The main entrance was locked, but a window opened. It happened at Kasoa Budumbram Rose Estates. They don’t even know the kind of dress she wore. But she left with her school bag and some school shoes. Her name is Constance, and she is 15 years old," he shared on his timeline.



UG Level 300 student

In the second instance, a Level 300 geography student from the University of Ghana was reported missing on July 21. 2024.

According to reports, the student, whose name was not given, informed his roommates that he was going home due to illness but had not been seen or heard from in 48 hours.

The incident was reported on social media by Guru NKZ, also known as Nana Yaw Adjei Maradona, a Ghanaian rapper who is a student at the school and is running for SRC president.



Dora Asideka

On July 16, 2024, Missing Ghana reported the disappearance of a 56-year-old woman, Dora Asideka, on their Facebook page.

According to the report, she was last seen at Ayetepa, Ningo-Prampam, in the Greater Accra Region wearing a wine-coloured dress.



NDC Women’s Organizer, Tema West constituency

On July 3, 2024, the family of Paulina Lamisi, the Women's Organizer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Tema West constituency, reported that their relative had been missing since June 12, 2024. Paulina reportedly left home after completing an assignment with her husband but has since gone missing. According to reports, her phone is reportedly unreachable, raising concerns among her family and prompting them to report the matter to the police.

"She left home alone on June 12, and all efforts to contact her have failed. We have reported her disappearance to the police, and a publication has been made in the media. If we don't hear anything within 7 days, the police can obtain a court order to access her phone records for further investigation.

We are deeply worried and pray for her safe return. We urge anyone with information to come forward. Wherever she is, we plead with her to come back home,” her brother noted in an interview.



Two missing children in Tamale found dead

On July 1, 2024, the Ghana Police Service initiated investigations into the death of two children whose bodies were found in an abandoned vehicle in Kakpayili, a suburb of Tamale, in the Northern Region.

The children, who were reported missing on June 25, 2024, were found on Sunday, June 20, 2024, in a compound within the Kakpayili community.

A statement released by the Ghana Police Service on July 1, 2024 said the police had commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the two children.

Blessing Addo

A 15-year-old boy, Blessing Addo was reported missing at Serebouso in the Atwiwa Mponua District of the Ashanti Region on July 15, 2024.

According to reports, he was last seen in a black shirt and a pair of green trousers at Serebouso.



Former Interior Minister’s reaction to kidnappings, missing children

In 2019, the then Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, was summoned by Parliament to give an update on investigations into and security in the country at the time.

Between August and December 2018, three cases of missing girls said to have been kidnapped were reported in the Western Region.

The bodies of the three missing girls were subsequently retrieved. Since then, there has not been any official communication from government or the sector ministry on the increase in missing children in recent times.

Security expert on missing children

Security analyst, Samuel Nana Appiah, has expressed worry over the escalating number of missing persons cases in recent times. He emphasised that a missing person report is alarming as it involves a potential risk to a life. He believes that whether the individual is an adult or a child, it should alarm all Ghanaians.

"We must be concerned about these issues because some malevolent individuals or criminals may be behind these acts, putting everyone at risk," he noted.

Speaking on 'Frontline' on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, he suggested that this trend might be part of a scheme orchestrated by criminal elements.

"If one person is declared missing and the pattern continues, then we should be alarmed. Our security agencies need to be astute and tackle this issue head-on."

He acknowledged that technology and mobile devices have greatly enhanced the ability to track and trace missing individuals.

"Through investigation, security agencies can trace the last call and focus their inquiry on the location from which the last call was made. However, the question remains: how quickly can we determine if a person is missing, has encountered a problem, has been kidnapped, or has been harmed? These are critical issues that our security agencies must address”, he noted.

He highlighted the importance of vigilance among the Ghanaian public, as anyone could become a victim.

"We must be cautious in our movements. Are we willing to inform others of our whereabouts? Some people lie about their location, making it difficult to find them when they are reported missing.

While technology can track missing individuals, we are ultimately responsible for our own safety. First and foremost, never conceal your location from those close to you or who care about you. Let others know where you are for your own safety, so you can be easily located.

"We should also be careful about the types of relationships we establish. Being wise and mindful of the level of trust we place in others is crucial. How quickly we trust or don't trust people is significant," he explained.

When questioned about Ghana's success in rescuing or finding those declared missing over the years, he said he couldn't be definitive due to the lack of evidence to base such a judgment on.

He also recommended conducting a national security threat assessment to categorise these cases and other illegal activities.

"Receiving these reports from our security services will help the public appreciate their work and support them in their duties.

"Analysts, intelligence experts, and the media will have access to this information, while security desks can focus on analysis and education to keep the public informed. Seeing and hearing from the intelligence community, the police, and national security educates the populace," he explained.

JKB/NOQ