A total of sixty-four kidnapped cases were reported in the central Region in 2018.
Eleven suspects have so far been arrested out of which one had been jailed while three were on remand.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Irene Serwaa Opong, Central Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Police Service (GPS) who made this known said 34 of the victims were rescued.
Subsequently, she has cautioned the public, especially, young girls against unguarded use of Social Media in the wake of recent kidnappings.
According to ASP Oppong, majority of the crimes committed in recent times were facilitated through social media.
She was addressing hundreds of women and young girls at a ceremony to mark this year’s International Woman’s Day held at the University of Cape Coast (UCC).
The program which was facilitated by the Centre for Gender, Research Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD) of UCC, was on the theme ” Think Equal, Build smart and innovate for change”
ASP Oppong explained that criminals used social media to lure girls and request basic information including pictures, locations which they used for criminal activities. on Facebook and other social media platforms.
She advised them to desist from establishing quick contacts with people in busses, accept gift from strangers and joining unknown WhatsApp groups.
She further called on faith-based organisations to collaborate with parents in the protection of children online and in communities.
She said parents must show interest in what their wards did on social media.
She said the Police was on top of the developments but called on the public to be vigilant and support efforts the Police.
She called on communities to form watch dog teams to help check the activities of kidnappers in the region.
