HRA Chairman Saad Kassis-Mohamed Calls for Full Independent Investigation into the Death of Israel Ashitei Kamoah in South Africa
Cape Town | April 24, 2026 - The Human Rights Association (HRA) today calls for a full, independent, and transparent investigation into the death of Israel Ashitei Kamoah, a 25-year-old Ghanaian graduate of Accra Technical University, who died in South Africa on March 30, 2026, just five days after travelling there. The circumstances surrounding his death, including credible evidence of foul play and the apparent premature closure of the initial police inquiry, demand urgent and thorough investigation by the competent authorities of both South Africa and Ghana.
According to reports, Ashitei Kamoah travelled to South Africa on March 25, 2026, on a trip reportedly organised by the Millennium Supporters Union of Ghana (MISUGHA). He had been approached by a woman identified as Edith, who allegedly handled all aspects of his travel, including his passport, visa, and flight arrangements, and instructed him to keep the trip confidential. She purportedly offered him a ticket to the South Africa versus Panama football fixture and the prospect of employment in South Africa.
The day before his death, Ashitei Kamoah contacted his cousin and provided details of the woman who had organised his travel, including her name and phone number, along with a statement to the effect that she should be held responsible if anything were to happen to him. He died on March 30, 2026. His mortal remains were repatriated to Ghana on April 1, 2026. The trip organisers communicated to the family that a South African post-mortem examination had attributed his death to suicide.
Upon examination of the body at LEKMA Mortuary in Ghana, the family discovered that the heart, lungs, and liver of the deceased were absent. The family has also stated that CCTV footage in their possession shows Ashitei Kamoah being physically removed against his will. These findings are wholly inconsistent with the suicide determination provided to the family and raise grave concerns regarding the possibility of organ trafficking and extrajudicial killing.
The matter was initially reported to the Labadi Police Station in Ghana. The woman identified as Edith was invited for questioning and subsequently released, with the case reportedly closed at that level. The family has since escalated the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. The HRA commends the family for their persistence in pursuing justice and calls on the CID to treat this case with the full seriousness it demands.
HRA Chairman Saad Kassis-Mohamed stated: “Israel Ashitei Kamoah was a young man with his entire future ahead of him. He was 25 years old. He sent a warning to his family the day before he died. His body was returned without vital organs. A police inquiry was opened and closed without adequate accountability. This is not a matter that can be allowed to rest. The HRA demands a full, independent, and cross-jurisdictional investigation and will not cease in its advocacy until the family of Israel Ashitei Kamoah receives the answers and the justice they deserve.”
The HRA calls specifically on the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa to reopen and rigorously investigate the circumstances of Ashitei Kamoah’s death, including the veracity of the post-mortem determination and the events captured on CCTV. The Association further calls on the Government of Ghana to provide full consular and investigative support to the family, and to engage directly with the South African authorities to ensure that this case receives the cross-border cooperation it requires.
The HRA additionally calls on the relevant United Nations Special Rapporteurs, including those with mandates on extrajudicial killings, trafficking in persons, and the sale and exploitation of children, to take notice of this case and to raise it formally with the Governments of South Africa and Ghana. The Association will be filing formal communications in support of the family’s call for justice.
“Israel Ashitei Kamoah sent a warning to his family the day before he died. His body was returned without vital organs. A police inquiry was opened and closed without adequate accountability. The HRA demands a full, independent, and cross-jurisdictional investigation and will not cease in its advocacy until the family receives the answers and the justice they deserve.”
Saad Kassis-Mohamed, Chairman, Human Rights Association
The HRA further calls on the Millennium Supporters Union of Ghana and all individuals who organised the trip on which Ashitei Kamoah travelled to cooperate fully and immediately with investigators from both countries, and to provide all documentation, communications, and records in their possession relating to the trip. The Association regards any failure to cooperate with investigators as a matter of the gravest concern.
The Human Rights Association is an initiative of the WeCare Foundation, Cape Town, active across Africa, South Asia, and the Gulf region. The HRA works to protect the human rights of individuals facing unjust detention, denial of medical care, and due process violations, and engages directly with United Nations mechanisms to advocate on their behalf. The Association also monitors and responds to threats to civilian populations, environmental and conservation rights, and the integrity of international human rights standards globally. For more information, visit wcrfoundation.com/human-rights-association.