"Take reasonable precautions" – The British government to Ghanaian citizens

General News of Sunday, June 9, 2019

Source: clbadfmonline.com

2019-06-09

The United Kingdom (UK) government has updated its travel tips to its Ghanaian citizens as a result of recent kidnappings and other forms of crime in Ghana.

The British High Commission in Ghana said the update released on June 7, 2019 included "a new abduction tip".

Preliminary comments in the updates urged the approximately 90,000 British nationals who visit Ghana each year to "take reasonable precautions. Be especially careful in public places and be careful when traveling by road.

The travel advisory stated that "it has been reported in the media that criminal-driven kidnappings took place in Accra, Takoradi and Kumasi, including foreigners. Kidnappings may have a financial or political purpose or be motivated by crime. If you are kidnapped, it is unlikely that the reason for your presence will protect or secure your release. "

He added: "The British government's long-standing policy is not to make substantive concessions to the hostage takers. The British government believes that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of new hostages. The Terrorism Act (2000) also makes payments to terrorists illegal ".

The British High Commission reported that various groups, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQ-IM) and groups affiliated with Daesh, were threats.

"The risk of kidnapping is high in the border areas of the Sahel. Terrorist groups have kidnapped foreigners, government officials and civilians in the region for financial gain and political influence. Other kidnappings are likely. People engaged in tourism, humanitarian aid, journalism or business are considered legitimate targets, "added the British High Commission.

This follows the recent kidnapping of two Canadian citizens in Kumasi, in the Ashanti region.

The two men were kidnapped at Silver Spring Avenue, a youth hostel near the Royal Gulf Club in Nhyiaeso, in the Ashanti regional capital.

Bailey Jordan Chitty, 19, and Lauren Patricia Catherine Tilley, 20, were bundled up in a Toyota Corolla private car after getting off an Uber car and being blown away amid shots. Both are volunteers from a non-governmental organization called Youth Challenge International.

The police, however, searched for the tandem and spared no effort to arrest the kidnappers.

There has been an increase in the number of abduction cases in Ghana.

In April of this year, an Indian was also kidnapped in the Ashanti region and rescued.

Mr. Om-Parkash Chudry was abducted on Thursday, April 25, 2019 by unidentified gunmen.

The kidnappers, about three in number, badaulted him, pushed him into a car and sped at full speed.

However, Mr. Chudry fought against the kidnappers, restrained them, took refuge in a nearby house and then called the police, who later rescued him in the early hours of Friday, April 26, 2019 .

At present, three Ghanaian girls who have been kidnapped since last August in the Ghanaian oil city, Takoradi, have still not been found.