Monday, June 12, 2023
Location: Kpando Municipality, Volta Region, Ghana
Tension across the Kpando Municipality remains at a fever pitch as security personnel, traditional vigilante groups, and local youth continue a three-week search for a high school mathematics tutor and his former student.
According to accounts, Mr. Richmond K. Kra, a teacher at a local Senior High School, and his 19-year-old former student, Majid Abdul Owusu, have not been seen since the night of May 22, 2023. Reports say the duo went allegedly missing after being caught in an intimate act at Mr. Kra’s off-campus residence in Kpando-Torkor, an incident locally characterized as “an act of sodomy and a violation of traditional and statutory laws.”
Reports indicate that it followed reports from some community members about an alleged incident at a private residence on the evening of May 22, 2023. The nature of the alleged incident has not been officially confirmed by police, and no formal charges have been announced as of press time.
According to community accounts gathered by this paper, residents said a domestic partner of one occupant returned to the residence and later raised an alarm to neighbours. This paper could not independently verify that account.
Residents further told this outlet that a crowd gathered outside the property later that evening, and that a community meeting was held near the Chief’s Palace on the morning of May 23, 2023. The content of that meeting has not been officially documented.
According to reports, the two persons said to reside at the property were reportedly not found. Police said they are verifying those reports.
Reports say the Kpando District Police Command said it has opened an inquiry and is appealing to the public for information. Police said checkpoints along the Kpando-Ho, Kpando-Aflao and Kpando-Dambai transit corridors were notified as a precautionary measure. Police confirmed that as of Monday, June 12, 2023, no arrests have been made.
A senior officer who asked not to be named because he is not authorised to speak publicly said: “We are looking into reports we have received. We caution the public against taking the law into their own hands. Persons with credible information should contact the District Command.”
In the absence of official updates, unverified rumours about the whereabouts of the two persons have circulated in the municipality, including rumours of possible travel towards border towns and rumours of interception. Police have not confirmed any of those rumours and have urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information that could endanger persons or prejudice an investigation.
The reports come at a time of heightened national debate on the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill before Parliament. Human rights observers have noted that public debate around the Bill has coincided with increased community tension in some areas when allegations related to sexuality are made.
The incident also raises broader questions about how allegations in educational settings are handled. The Ghana Education Service [GES] has procedures for investigating allegations of misconduct, which include fair hearing and due process.
Speaking generally about community vigilantism and not in relation to any specific persons in Kpando, Davis Mac-Iyalla, Director of the Interfaith Diversity Network of West Africa [IDNOWA], said: “Under the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, every citizen is entitled to fundamental human rights, protection from torture, and the presumption of innocence. When communities resort to mob action, the state fails in its constitutional duty. We urge authorities to uphold due process.”
As of press time on Monday, June 12, 2023, police say their inquiry is ongoing and they continue to appeal to the public for credible information.
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