Families of the three kidnapped girls in the Sekondi – Takoradi metropolis say they feel neglected by government several months after the incident.
According to them, the courts and security agencies responsible for bringing the perpetrators to book are not treating the case with the urgency it deserves.
The families said events after the kidnapping, gives credence to widely held perception that justice is only for the high and mighty in society.
“The President delivered his State of the Nation Address and I sobbed because he did not even dedicate one line of his statement to sympathize with us. I feel that I am alone in this” father of kidnapped 15-year-old Priscilla Mantebea Koranchie said.
“I follow parliamentary proceedings a lot but I hardly hear the case of the kidnapping. It was one time that I heard Helen Adjoa Ntoso comment on it. It is sad” Mr Koranchie said.
He was also not happy with the lack of information on the investigation, saying “now all we do is just go to court when there is a hearing, after it is deep silence from the police and relevant stakeholders”.
Mr Alexander Koranchie made this observation when the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, visited the families to commensurate with them.
Comfort Arhin, mother of 18-year old Ruthlove Quayson wondered whether justice will ever be served insisting “what at all is preventing the police from getting to the bottom of the case?”
She pleaded with the MP amidst tears, to get parliament to also join in the campaign to find the three kidnapped girls.
“My daughter was kidnapped in December [2018] and I have never slept. Look at me now, I’m gradually losing my mind and it is only a matter of time that something happens to me if my daughter is not found”, she cried.
For his part, Francis Bentum, father of 18-year old Priscilla Bentum, was puzzled at how the judiciary is treating the case.
“I was thinking that this case involves the life of three young girls and the longer it is delayed the slimmer chances of finding them. But the judge says they are looking at the case of the escape which to me is inconsequential” he said.
He queried: “how long has the court been sitting on the case of escape and look at the attitude of the suspect. It is pathetic.
“I recall the suspect mentioning that one kwesi and a CID helped him escape. Strangely, the court is silent on the CID and I’m wondering if it was the daughter of an MP who was kidnapped, that CID would have been sought after with the speed of lightening,” Mr. Bentum.
The MP, Armah Kofi Buah, was equally not happy with how the case has travelled so far.
“It is dangerous when people lose confidence in the judiciary and the security agencies.
“I don’t know what is preventing the police from resolving your case but I am sure they are doing the best that they can. So I will encourage you not to lose faith.”
He assured the families that he will make it his duty to not only get the parliament to devote time to the kidnapping case, but also impress on the relevant agencies to give the case the necessary attention.
“What I will do immediately is to get in touch with the Western Region MP caucus for us to make this a personal campaign, after, we will let the rest of our colleagues see reason to join in the campaign.
“I will also engage the leadership of parliament to haul the Minister for Interior Ambrose Derry to the house to answer charges, questions and also give the house an update on investigation so far because I believe the families deserve that information,” the MP assured.
By Eric Adjei|3news.com|Ghana|