Abduction of 89-year old woman- the case of Mrs. Martha Quaynor 

An 89-year-old retired Educationist, Mrs. Martha Quaynor, is alleged to have been abducted from her residence on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at Mallam, in Accra. 

This follows series of family disagreements over her own properties and some members of her family.

However, her abduction brings to forth issues of ageing, health concerns, and how rights of the aged are protected in the Ghanaian society.

The abduction of the retired Educationist according to her nurse was led by a self-proclaimed Paramount Chief of Abola, Nii Kofi Tuadan III and Madam Mary Ann Nunoo, her daughter.

Checks revealed that, Madam Mary Ann Nunoo, her daughter claims that, she wanted to take care of her mum (Mrs, Quaynor) herself, but this was not done in agreement with his brother Mr. Patrick Quaynor and other family members.

According to the checks the 89-year old woman, also opposed to the supposed relocation, hence the action was in a clear violation of her fundamental human rights as well as the laws guiding such actions in Ghana, when it comes to dealing with the aged.

Information gathered from Mercy Home Care Center, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), based in Tema, and specialized in taking care of the aged in society, indicates that no member of a family can take possession of an aged in a family without general consent of the entire family.

Before an aged is brought to an aged home, it must come with an express consent of the entire family not just that of few family members. No family member, can unilaterally take an aged in his or her custody without the general consent of the entire family.

The information further stated that, in the case of the retired Educationist, she has a nurse taking care of her in her home, and was therefore not in any form of danger to warrant her forcible removal from her home by her daughter and the Chief.

In view of this, the actions of Madam Marry Ann and self-proclaimed Paramount Chief of Abola, Nii Kofi Tuadan III, are in clear violation of the human rights of Mrs. Quayenor as well as the laws of Ghana.

It must be noted that, the retired Educationist had been battling dementia since 2018, was reportedly dragged out of her home in a violent manner, after having her breakfast and was relaxing in the morning.

It is unclear the motive behind the abduction, but a family source indicates, that an ongoing dispute over property and access to Mrs. Quaynor’s finances could be the key reasons behind the act. 

Madam Mary Ann Nunoo is said to have pressured her brother, Mr. Patrick Quaynor, who lives in the United States, to support her bid to access their mother’s bank accounts – a request that was vehemently rejected, as it was against her mother’s wish. 

She also reportedly demanded her inclusion in their mother’s rental property at Kaneshie Awudome Estates, which has been managed for over a decade by a trusted caretaker appointed by Mrs. Quaynor herself. 

Her brother objected, insisting that their mother’s wishes must be respected and it is highly suspected that this long-running disagreements are the possible reasons for the alleged abduction.

On July 24 this year, Madam Nunoo allegedly tried to forcibly remove her mother from her home by breaking down her door. 

The Mallam Police intervened and arrested her and the case remains under investigation. However, on the 6th October another report was lodged with the DOVSU Unit of the Odorkor Police Station since her whereabouts was still unknown.

The DOVSU police reached out to Nii Kofi Tuadan III but he did not show up.

Subsequently, a press conference was organised by Madam Nunoo, with Mrs Quaynor seated denied that she abducted her mother, but the exact location of the retired Educationist remains unknown.