The national youth organiser of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Mark Ewusi Arkoh, has called for the dismissal of officers whose action may have led to the escape of inmates from police cells in the Zenu-Atadeka area of Greater Accra.
Twelve inmates escaped last week from the Zenu-Atadeka police station in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality of the Greater Accra Region when a police officer opened the cells to place a suspect in custody.
Speaking on The Asaase Breakfast Show with Kojo Mensah on Monday 12 April 2021, Arkoh attributed the latest development to lapses in the security system.
“Loose security apparatus”
“We don’t have a loose security apparatus but I think there are some few lapses within our security set-up … various security agencies must wake up to this very call to ensure that the rightful thing is done,” Arkoh said.
He added: “We have been so lackadaisical on this issue for far too long. People do wrong or on their blind side others commit some wrong, and they are the head of whatever institution they [lead] and heads must roll.”
It was the second time in two months that Ghana had recorded a cell break.
Last month, suspects escaped from police custody in Bekwai in the Ashanti Region. One of the suspects was later rearrested and sentenced to 17 years in prison.
Rearrests
Meanwhile, police have rearrested seven out of the 12 escapees from the Zenu-Atadeka police station in Kpone-Katamanso, an official statement has said.
“Seven out of 12 suspects who were in the custody of the Zenu-Atadeka District Police, but escaped from lawful custody on Sunday 4 April 2021, have been rearrested,” the statement announced.
It added: “Six of them have been convicted by the Ashaiman Circuit Court on their own plea, on charges related to their escape from lawful custody. The Tema Police Regional Command is making all efforts to rearrest the remaining five wanted persons whose pictures are here attached and calls on the public to assist.”
The 12 inmates on remand escaped from cells on Easter Sunday when a police officer opened the cells as he placed a suspect in custody. According to reports, an inmate threw hot porridge in the police officer’s face, allowing the inmates to execute their plan successfully.
Fred Dzakpata
Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
#asaaseradio #TVOL