The Ghana Police Service has arrested a 39-year-old man, identified as Michael Mensah, in connection with the death of Innocentia Atsufui Avinu, a Level 200 student of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), whose body was discovered at Hutchland Beach in Cape Coast.
According to police sources, Michael Mensah was arrested on Sunday, June 15, by the Inspector-General of Police’s Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team in Cape Coast following ongoing investigations into the student’s death.
Innocentia, a 20-year-old Bachelor of Commerce (Human Resource) student, was reported missing after she left her hostel on the evening of June 10 or 11 following a phone call. Her roommate told investigators that she dressed casually and left the hostel at about 7:00 p.m. but never returned.
Days later, her body was found washed ashore at Hutchland Beach near Cape Coast. Initial police examinations revealed no visible signs of physical assault, although blood was observed coming from her nose. The body was subsequently conveyed to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital mortuary for preservation and further examination.
The case attracted national attention, prompting Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno to deploy a special investigative team from Accra to assist the Central Regional Police Command in unraveling the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.
Police investigations reportedly established that Innocentia was last seen being driven toward the Hutchland Beach area before her disappearance. The arrest of Michael Mensah is expected to aid investigators in determining the exact events leading to her death.
Authorities say investigations remain ongoing, and a post-mortem examination is expected to provide further details on the cause of death. Police have urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information while the investigation continues.
The tragic death of Innocentia has sparked widespread grief within the UCC community and across Ghana, with students, public officials, and members of the public calling for justice and a thorough investigation.
