A former Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Joseph Yammin has attributed the recent spate of kidnapping in Ghana to what he calls “painful economic hardship” under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, MyNewsGh.com reports.

In a program covered by MyNewsGh.com, Mr Yammin indicated that the unavailability of jobs for the youth coupled with the hardship under Akufo-Addo is what may have forced some of the youth into the canker of kidnapping for ransom.

Three girls and others have been kidnapped in Takoradi in the Western region between August 2018 and December 2019 police reveal

Priscilla Mantebea Koranchie, Priscilla Blessing Bentum and Ruth Love Quayson were kidnapped and have not been released despite their families paying ransom to the kidnappers, as MyNewsGh.com reported.

One Nigerian – Samuel Udoetuk Wills who is the prime suspect in the matter has been arrested an in police custody assisting with investigations with news suggesting another person has been apprehended in connection with the kidnapping in the area.

There are also reports that one boy who was kidnapped in Takoradi last week was found dead in a bush though the police are yet to confirm whether it was indeed kidnapping.

But Mr. Joseph Yammin who was addressing National Democratic Congress (NDC) executives and members at Gyinyase in the Asokwa constituency at an event MyNewsGh.com covered, described President Nana Addo as National Security threat who is responsible for the kidnappings.

According to Joseph Yammin, Ghanaians are going through hardship forcing the youth to engage in illegal activities to feed themselves with such acts beginning to fester on.

“Under President Akufo-Addo, kidnapping has taken over the country. Things which never happened since Independence are now happening under Nana Addo’s administration. People are doing all sort of illegal work to get money due to the economic hardship under President Akufo-Addo” he said.

Joseph Yammin added that youth unemployment rate has soared due to collapsed businesses under Nana Addo.

“Businesses have been collapsed, others are on the verge of collapsing. Workers have been laid off making unemployment rate increase. Exporters can no longer export while importers too can’t import. Nana Addo is collapsing businesses with killer taxes”, urging NDC executives to vote massively for former President Mahama to lead NDC in the party’s flagbearer contest saying NDC can only win 2020 with John Mahama.