The Ghana High Commissioner to South Africa has confirmed the release of the Church of Pentecost deacon kidnapped in an attack on a Johannesburg assembly last Sunday, October 29, 2023.
Emmanuel Cudjoe, the deacon, was attacked at gunpoint during a live service.
The robbers, before abducting the deacon took valuables from the congregation including monies, mobile phones and others items.
The Church of Pentecost on Tuesday, October 31 declared a three-day fasting and prayers as a result of the incident.
The fasting and prayers is supposed to end on Thursday, November 2, but the deacon has been released.
According to Charles Owiredu, the Ghana High Commissioner to South Africa, deacon Cudjoe was released by his kidnappers Tuesday night and currently with the family.
“He is with his family now,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday, November 1.
The Church of Pentecost Deacon/Elder was freed last night. He is with his family now.
— Charles Owiredu (@CharlesOwiredu3) November 1, 2023
The attack on Sunday left not only members of the church at the overseas assembly but also the Ghanaian community in South Africa traumatised.
The Ghana High Commission in South Africa, a day after the incident, advised all members of the Ghanaian community to “take necessary precautions to ensure their safety and wellbeing”.
The Mission had assured of working in tandem with the Church in cooperation with the South Africa Police Service “to ensure the speedy and safe release and return of the victim to his family”.
The robbery operation took less than five minutes as captured on a stationary camera.
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