The effort to find a missing Ghanaian and UNICEF diplomat intensifies in South Africa with renewed calls to help find her. Charlotte Nana Yaa Nikoi an associate director for human resources at Unicef’s headquarters in New York was on vacation in South Africa with her husband to celebrate their 22nd wedding anniversary when she disappeared.
She disappeared while taking a hike on the Table Mountain, a popular tourist site near Cape Town, when she decided to go down the mountain by herself.
Concerns about her disappearance has reach as far as the office of President Zuma who has appealed to the general public to help the police in their investigation and efforts to locate and unite Ms. Nikoi with her family.
Her husband Chris who suspects that she has been kidnapped has appealed for her to be released unharmed so that she can be reunited with her family. The ordeal is especially hard on the family as their 22 old daughter graduates this month.
The longer it takes to find her the more troubling the situation becomes. The family is offering a R50,000 reward (about $3700.00) for anyone who can help found her. Police in South Africa say there has been a few leads, but none credible enough to lead to her location.
The mountain trail has seen an uptick of crime in recent months prompting a warning to visitors to be vigilant.
The government of Ghana has expressed grave concern about the disappearance and is asking the authorities in South Africa to do everything in their power to help find her. President Akufo-Addo is expected to talk to President Zuma about the fate of the missing diplomat and mother.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is encouraged to contact the police office handling the investigation at telephone number 083 244 3688.
