GNAT demands urgent police action to find missing 13-year-old boy

The Central Regional leadership of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to intensify efforts to locate 13-year-old Emmanuel Afful, who went missing on October 8, 2026.

Emmanuel is the son of Hilda Afful, the Gomoa District GNAT Secretary in the Central Region.

In a press statement issued on Monday, October 19, GNAT expressed concern over the boy’s disappearance and the distress it has caused his family and the wider teaching fraternity.

According to an extract from the Ghana Police Service Station Diary at the Agbogba Police Station, Emmanuel reportedly left home at about 2:00 p.m. on October 8 to buy foodstuffs from a nearby shop but did not return.

The incident was formally reported to the police on October 10, prompting efforts to establish his whereabouts.

The police record describes Emmanuel as a 13-year-old boy of average height and dark complexion who speaks Twi and English. He was reportedly wearing a Barcelona jersey when he went missing.

GNAT calls for intensified investigations

GNAT Central Region has urged the IGP to treat the case with urgency and mobilise the necessary resources to ensure the boy’s safe return.

In the statement, the association said the prolonged uncertainty surrounding Emmanuel’s disappearance had heightened anxiety among his family and colleagues.

“We want our child alive. We want Emmanuel Afful found safe and reunited with his mother and family. Every passing day brings greater anxiety and uncertainty for his loved ones,” the statement said.

The association called on the police to intensify investigations, pursue all credible leads and keep the family informed about efforts to locate the missing boy.

It also expressed confidence in the Ghana Police Service’s responsibility to protect lives and maintain public safety, urging the IGP to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to secure Emmanuel’s return.

GNAT Central Region has also appealed to the public to support efforts to find Emmanuel by sharing information that could help establish his whereabouts.

It urged anyone with credible information about the boy to report immediately to the nearest police station.

The association further called on community leaders, civil society organisations and the media to help circulate information about the missing child to improve the chances of finding him.

Describing the disappearance of a 13-year-old as a matter of grave concern, GNAT reaffirmed its support for Madam Hilda Afful and her family.

“Our heartfelt appeal to the IGP and the entire Ghana Police Service is simple: Find Emmanuel Afful. Bring him home alive. His family needs him, and we want our child back,” the statement added.