Police have rearrested one of the six remand prisoners who escaped from the police cells at Konongo in the Asante Akyem Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region, Citi News reports. The other five are still at large.
The escapee was picked up at a suburb of Kumasi after police launched a manhunt following the escape, according to Citi Newsroom and Adom Online. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining five, Adom Online reports.
How they got out
The inmates may have escaped through a hole that had been dug leading towards the detached washrooms at the police station, Citi Newsroom reports, citing authorities. After getting out of the cell through the hole, they jumped down and fled.
GhanaCrimes earlier reported the escape, which a police source told Asaase News happened at dawn on Tuesday while the inmates appeared to be engaged in prayer.
Security measures announced
Asante Akyem Central Municipal Chief Executive Dr Ebenezer Ekow Aidoo confirmed the incident to Citi News. He said the Municipal Security Council is taking steps to fortify the walls of the police cells.
Dr Aidoo also outlined longer-term measures, including putting up a new police station and tasking the police to increase the number of officers on duty, especially at night, Citi Newsroom reports. The Municipal Security Council will also improve lighting at the station and install cameras to help track and prevent such incidents, he said.
Neither report names the escapees or the offences for which they were on remand.
Sources: Citi Newsroom, Adom Online
Update (14:00 GMT): MyJoyOnline also reported on this story under the headline "One of six inmates who escaped from Konongo police cells rearrested". Read the MyJoyOnline report.