Residents of Sefwi Asawinso in the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality are in shock following the death of an 8-year-old girl who went missing for less than 24 hours.

The lifeless body of Josephine Ayitey was discovered in a cocoa farm near Nkwakaw, a suburb of Sefwi Asawinso, on Monday.

Speaking to OTEC News on Tuesday, a family member and Chief Executive Officer of Daud Herbal Centre, Dr Daud Hamidu, said the deceased went missing from her home on Sunday afternoon while playing with her friend.

“A search for her proved unsuccessful until her body was found dumped in the cocoa farm the following day,” he said.

According to Dr Daud Hamidu, a woman returning from her farm reported seeing the lifeless body of a young girl.

“We rushed to the scene only to discover it was our daughter’s body,” he recounted. “We immediately informed the police, who later retrieved the body for investigation.”

He added that the incident has sparked fear, panic, and mourning in the community, especially among women and parents.

Dr Daud has called for a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to book.