No legal basis for 24-hour wait to report missing persons – Lawyer asserts amid public outcry

A private legal practitioner has questioned the Ghana Police Service's alleged requirement of a 24-hour wait before families can report missing persons, arguing that the rule lacks any legal basis. In an interview with Adom News, Lawyer Paul Kumi insisted that relatives and concerned citizens should be able to report a missing person's whereabouts immediately, especially when the circumstances are suspicious or distressing.

He warned that police officers should not use this supposed requirement as a means to delay investigations or deter desperate families from seeking help. Kumi emphasized that any such report must result in the issuance of a police extract, which he deemed crucial for media coverage and public announcements that assist in search and rescue operations.

The issue resurfaced into the public eye following a distressing incident where a mother lost her 14-year-old child, who was later discovered murdered the following morning. The distraught mother recounted her experience with the police, who initially turned her away and instructed her to return the following day. This left her in a state of despair and helplessness, as she knew her child was in grave danger while the police remained unresponsive.

Security analyst Nana Appiah Mensah argued that the 24-hour directive may not be malicious but rather an administrative measure intended to prevent false or premature reports. However, this explanation has not eased public concern, with many members of the public calling for immediate reforms, clearer reporting procedures, and immediate, decisive action in missing-person cases.

Civil society groups and legal experts are urging the Police Administration to clarify its official directives, stressing that public safety and the preservation of human life should always come before bureaucratic procedures.