An elderly man has been found abandoned in front of a container shop at Community 7 in Tema, located in the Uhuru Electoral Area of the metropolis.
A local resident informed Graphic Online that an unidentified person dropped the man by the roadside opposite the Tema Joint Church on Friday, March 28, 2025, and left the scene on a motorbike. Concerned by the man’s frail condition, an eyewitness approached him.
It soon became clear that the motorbike rider had abandoned him there.
The resident explained that the man appeared to be suffering from memory loss and was unable to provide much useful information about himself, except for an inactive telephone number and his name, which he identified as Richmond Kwame Baffour.
Further questioning revealed that the man claimed to be a former employee of Pioneer Food Cannery and an Uber driver. His telephone number, when searched on Truecaller, came up as “Kwame Uber.”
A police report was filed immediately, and authorities promised to retrieve the man, but despite multiple follow-ups and calls to senior officers, no action has been taken.
Residents also reached out to the Social Welfare office at the Tema General Hospital but were told that a police extract was needed before any intervention could occur.
Currently, the elderly man is being cared for by well-wishers, who have provided food, a bath, and a change of clothes.
However, as he is unable to stand or walk, he has been unable to manage his personal hygiene, leading to discomfort and difficulty.
He sleeps in the open, in front of a container with an extended roof, often enduring rain and harsh conditions. In the first few days after being abandoned, he slept under a table.
When visited by a reporter, the man mentioned that he was married to a woman named Kate, who lives in Tema Community 5, but he could not recall who brought him to Community 7 or where he had been picked up from.
The community has appealed for help from the public, especially residents of Tema, to identify the man’s relatives so that he can receive the necessary care, either at home or in a healthcare facility.
The Department of Social Welfare and Community Development in Tema has confirmed that it is aware of the situation and is working on steps to evacuate the man to a psychiatric hospital, though the department is facing limited resources.
The Head of the Social Welfare Department, Mr. Robert Mensah Gbley, stated that Tema does not currently have a shelter for abandoned individuals.
He also emphasized that most facilities require the presence of a relative or guardian to facilitate the care process, urging the public to assist in locating the man’s family.