Tema West MP Demands Urgent Probe Into Disappearance of Constituency Women's Organiser
More than two years after Madam Paulina Lamisi Akanbodiipo vanished without a trace, the Member of Parliament for Tema West is calling on the Ghana Police Service to deploy every available resource, including modern forensic and investigative tools, to determine what happened to the Constituency Women’s Organiser of the National Democratic Congress.
James Enu, the NDC legislator for Tema West, made the appeal at a press conference in Sakumono on Monday, describing the disappearance as a painful loss that extends far beyond party politics. Madam Akanbodiipo, a dedicated grassroots mobiliser and prominent community figure in the constituency, was last seen on 12 June 2024. She has not been heard from since.
In a gesture that underscores the gravity of the situation, constituency executives have kept her official chair vacant during leadership meetings, a symbolic reminder of an absence that has left family, colleagues, and community members in agonising uncertainty.
“This matter should not be viewed through a political lens,” Mr Enu told reporters. “It is an issue concerning the safety and security of all citizens.”
The MP disclosed that he has maintained regular contact with the Ghana Police Service, constituency executives, and the Akanbodiipo family since the disappearance, pressing for the investigation to remain active. He appealed directly to the Inspector-General of Police to mobilise all available resources and bring the case to a conclusion.
The call comes at a time of heightened public anxiety about the safety of women and young people across Ghana. The disappearance adds to a growing list of cases that have tested public confidence in law enforcement’s capacity to resolve missing-person investigations swiftly. Recent discussions about the vulnerability of women and girls have only sharpened the urgency of demands for answers in cases like Madam Akanbodiipo’s.
Mr Enu urged anyone with information to come forward and assist the police. He assured the family of his continued support and pledged to keep advocating for transparency and accountability throughout the search for answers.
The disappearance of a known political figure in a major constituency like Tema West, with no resolution after more than two years, raises uncomfortable questions about the investigative capacity of state institutions and the broader environment of security that citizens can expect.
For the Akanbodiipo family, the wait continues. For the constituency, the empty chair at the table remains a daily reminder that someone is still missing, and that the truth, whatever it may be, has yet to surface.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
