A 20-year-old Level 200 student of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ms. Innocentia Avinu, has been found dead at a beach in the Central Region after being reported missing by her family.
According to reports, the deceased, a native of Dzodze in the Volta Region was last seen on June 11, 2026, at the Ayensu Plaza Hostel on the UCC campus.
She was reportedly wearing a black dress at the time of her disappearance.
Her family subsequently raised alarm and launched a search, appealing to the public for assistance in locating her.
The search ended in tragedy when her body was discovered on Friday, June 12, 2026, at the Hatchland Beach Resort near Cape Coast.
A cousin of the deceased, Eric-Sylvera Kwadzozah Avorgbedor, confirmed the discovery in an interview with GhanaWeb, noting that the cause of death remains unknown.
According to him, the family is awaiting an autopsy to determine the exact circumstances leading to her death.
“The cause of death is unknown for now. There is going to be an autopsy on Monday, so until then we do not actually know what caused her death. Her body was found at Hatchland Beach,” he said.
He added that school authorities have contacted the family and assured them that investigations are underway.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has directed the University of Cape Coast authorities to work closely with the Ghana Police Service to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Education on Sunday, June 14, the Minister described the incident as deeply distressing.
“The Ministry of Education has received with deep sadness reports of the death of Ms. Innocentia Avinu, a Level 200 student at the University of Cape Coast, at a beach in Cape Coast,” the statement said.
The Ministry further instructed the university to collaborate with security agencies to establish the full circumstances leading to the student’s death.
“The Honourable Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has directed the authorities of the University of Cape Coast to collaborate closely with the Ghana Police Service to commence a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death,” the statement added.
The Ministry extended its condolences to the bereaved family, friends, and the university community, urging the public to allow investigations to proceed without interference.
The deceased’s body has since been deposited for preservation and autopsy as police continue investigations into the incident.
