20-Year-Old UCC Student Found Dead at Cape Coast Beach in Suspected Murder
A 20-year-old second-year student of the University of Cape Coast has been found dead at Hatchland Beach in Cape Coast, in what police are treating as a suspected murder. The discovery has sent shockwaves through the university community and raised urgent questions about student safety in the Central Region.
The victim, identified as Avinu Innocentia, had been missing for several days before residents visiting the beach in the early hours of the morning discovered her lifeless body on the shore. Eyewitnesses reported that the body was half-naked, with blood oozing from her nose and one breast apparently severed — injuries suggesting a violent and brutal attack.
The Last Known Movements
Before her disappearance, Avinu had told friends she was going to meet a wealthy acquaintance. When she failed to return or make contact for several days, her family reported her missing to police. The grim discovery at Hatchland Beach brought a devastating end to the search.
Family members were called to identify the body through photographs, and together with the Dean of Students at UCC and police officers, they proceeded to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital Mortuary for formal identification. The body remains at the mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Police Investigation Under Way
The Central Regional Crime Scene Management Team visited the scene to collect evidence and has launched a formal investigation into the circumstances of the killing. As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made.
Police have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity near Hatchland Beach and the surrounding areas. Anyone with information relevant to the case has been asked to contact the Central Regional Police Command.
University Community in Mourning
The death of a student under such violent circumstances has cast a pall over the University of Cape Coast campus. University officials are expected to provide counselling and support services for students and staff affected by the incident.
The case adds to a growing list of violent crimes against young people in Ghana’s educational institutions and coastal communities, underscoring the need for stronger safety measures and more effective policing in areas frequented by students.
Authorities have promised a thorough investigation. For Avinu’s family and the wider UCC community, the priority now is justice — and answers about what happened in the days between her disappearance and the discovery of her body on that Cape Coast beach.
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