I was not kidnapped, I went into hiding – Tarkwa Gyaasehene told the police

Apinto’s Divisional Council Gyaasehene, Dr Nana Adarkwa Bediako II, has denied being kidnapped as was widely reported on Thursday.

West Regional Police PRO DSP Olivia Ewurabena Adiku told media on Friday that the chief told them he was in hiding but was not kidnapped.

According to her, the chief denied the kidnapping allegation when he showed up at Tarkwa Police Command to give a vivid account of his disappearance from Wednesday to Thursday evening.

“Nana said he had not been kidnapped and honestly doesn’t know who sent the message of his kidnapping,” she said.

Dr Nana Adarkwa Bediako III, the Gyaasehene of Tarkwa, went missing on July 14 after a suspect who had threatened him was released on bail the day before.

Police and national security officers launched a nationwide search. But Thursday evening, his family said the chief had been located.

DSP Adiku also said that Dr Nana Adarkwa Bediako II told them that he went to the bank to withdraw money to buy instruments for the Pentecostal Church on the day she disappeared from Tarkwa.

He said of the bank; there was an instrument store nearby, so he decided to walk to the store next door.

DSP Ewurabena Adiku said that while Tarkwa Gyaasehene was on his way there, a man accosted him and told him that some people were planning to kill him.

She said he immediately took the next available taxi and went into hiding, but couldn’t communicate with anyone because he left his phones in his car.

“He did not disclose where he had been but insisted he had not been kidnapped,” PRO police said.

Police say they have opened an investigation into the matter.