A deacon from Ghana who was abducted during a church service in Johannesburg, South Africa, has been successfully released. The deacon, known as Elder Emmanuel Cudjoe according to Ghanaian reports, was taken by an armed gang who disrupted a gathering at the Church of Pentecost, where they also stole from the congregation at gunpoint.
High Commissioner Charles Owiredu, Ghana’s representative in South Africa, shared the news on X (formerly Twitter) that the deacon, whose name he didn’t disclose, has been reunited with his family after his release on Tuesday night. The exact circumstances of his release were not provided.
The Church of Pentecost Deacon/Elder was freed last night. He is with his family now.
— Charles Owiredu (@CharlesOwiredu3) November 1, 2023
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of robberies occurring at religious institutions, including churches, mosques, and temples in South Africa. The government has pledged to take measures to enhance the safety and security of worshippers in a country with one of the world’s highest crime rates.
