A sigh of relief for the Canadian government following the rescue of its kidnapped nationals

The Canadian government has expressed joy and relief following the release of two of its nationals from kidnappers in Ghana Wednesday.

“The Government is very relieved to confirm that the two Canadians who were kidnapped in Ghana have been released. We would like to thank the Government of Ghana for their cooperation in the resolution of this case,” Canadian authorities said in a statement.

Lauren Tilley and Bailey Chitty were rescued by Ghanaian police on Wednesday after being held hostage for a week in Ghana’s second largest city, Kumasi.

The two are members of the Youth Challenge International, a Toronto-based non-profit group.

In a statement posted online, the group says both are safe and unhurt, and they are “receiving emotional and psychological support from professionals as they travel home.”

Ghana’s national police force said last Thursday that the two Canadian women were aged 19 and 20.

Global Affairs Canada says the federal government is “very relieved” that the two women have been rescued from what a department spokesman called their “harrowing experiences.”

Ghana’s information ministry says national security operatives completed the rescue mission in the country’s south-central Ashanti region.

Eight arrested

Eight persons are currently in custody over the kidnapping of the two.

“Five Ghanaians and three Nigerians are in custody for this incident. One suspect sustained injuries during the rescue operation. Victims have been flown to Accra. Preliminary investigations show they are fine and are receiving the necessary attention,” Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah told the media at a brief press conference on Wednesday.

“They were rescued at Kenyase in a Kumasi suburb. Doctors and psychologists are engaging the victims to give them all the necessary emotional and psychological support,” he added.

Mr. Nkrumah said the operation did not include any foreign security.

He said: “The operations started Tuesday evening and there was no foreign assets involved in the operation. It was entirely done by the national security and security outfits of Ghana. The operation lasted for 25 minutes.”

“We want to assure the world that Ghana is safe and there is no security threat,” the minister added.