The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has suspended its 6th edition of the Moment of Truth series to grieve the loss of the four Takoradi girls.

The event was slated for Tuesday, 17 September 2019 but the NDC in a statement, says it is "shocked, devastated and appalled by the outcome of the DNA tests confirmed by the Police on Monday.

“We are shocked, devastated and appalled by the unprofessional, untidy and nonchalant manner in which our security services and how the Akufo-Addo government has handled this critical issue that involved the lives of four precious and promising young souls,” the NDC said in a statement signed by Mr Sammy Gyamfi National Communications officer of the party.

The NDC noted that the manner in which the entire investigation into the kidnapping of the girls was carried out leaves much to be desired and exposes the institutional failures and the leadership paralysis that Ghanaians are witnessing in all sectors under President Akufo-Addo.

“Even as we sympathise and commiserate with the bereaved families, we cannot overlook the concerns expressed by the families of the girls and sections of Ghanaians about the accuracy and authenticity of the DNA results especially in the face of several misleading and inconsistent accounts about the whereabouts of the missing girls,” the statement said.

The NDC said they stand together with the families and the people of Takoradi and will officially speak on the matter in due course.

The police confirmed on Monday that some human remains retrieved from the backyard of the prime suspect in the kidnapping case of the missing girls are, indeed, those of Ruth Abakah, Priscilla Blessing Bentum, 21; Ruth Love Quayson, 18; and Priscilla Mantebea Kuranchie, 18.

Their families called for an independent DNA test following the retrieval of skeletons from a septic tank behind the house of the prime suspect. The tests were to ascertain whether or not the remains found are those of the girls who have been missing since August and December 2018.

A team of investigators from the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service found the remains when they went on an operation at Kansaworodo, a superb of Takoradi. On Monday, 16 September 2019, the Inspector-General of Police, James Oppong Boanuh, confirmed to the media that the DNA results had come in positive. Read full statement below

For Immediate Release:

17/09/19

6TH EDITION OF MOMENT OF TRUTH CALLED OFF AS A RESULT OF THE SHOCKING NEWS OF THE DEATH OF THE MISSING TAKORADI GIRLS

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) wishes to announce for the information of the media and general public, that the 6th edition of our Moment of Truth series which was slated for today at 1:00pm has been called off.

This postponement has been necessitated by the need for the party to join the Ghanaian people in grieving the loss of four precious “Takoradi Girls” following a shocking but doubtful announcement by the Ghana Police Service yesterday that DNA tests have confirmed the passing of the girls.

We are shocked, devastated and appalled by the unprofessional, untidy and nonchalant manner in which our security services and the Akufo-Addo government has handled this critical issue that involved the lives of four precious and promising young souls.

The manner in which the entire investigation into the kidnapping of these girls was carried out leaves much to be desired and exposes the institutional failures and the leadership paralysis that Ghanaians are witnessing in all sectors under President Akufo-Addo.

Even as we sympathize and commiserate with the bereaved families, we cannot overlook the concerns expressed by the families of the girls and sections of Ghanaians about the accuracy and authenticity of the DNA results especially in the face of several misleading and inconsistent accounts about the whereabouts of the missing girls.

We further wish to assure their families and the people of Takoradi that we stand together in these difficult times.

The NDC shall officially speak on this matter in due course.

Signed.
SAMMY GYAMFI
(National Communication Officer)