Arrest of alleged arsonists is a hoax – NPP MP

New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Fanteakwa South, Kofi Okyere Agyekum, has described as a "hoax," government’s claim to have arrested some persons suspected to be behind the recent fires at major markets in the country.

According to him, the arrest is a "publicity stunt" to give credence to government’s suspicion that the recent market fires are the handiwork of arsonists.

Kofi Okyere Agyekum was speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday.

A Deputy Information and Media Relations Minister, Murtala Mohammed during the daily press briefing at the Flagstaff House revealed that the security agencies have arrested some suspected arsonists behind recent market fires.

He said the arrest vindicates President John Mahama’s suspicion of arson in the market fires.

Falling short to give names of those arrested, Murtala Mohammed noted the suspects are being screened to assist in investigations.

But the Fnateakwa MP on Ekosii Sen opined that the arrest is a "smokescreen" to cover up government’s ineptitude in solving the problem.

He said because there is pressure on government and the security agencies to find a lasting solution to the incessant fires, "they have just rounded up some people to create an impression that something is being done".

Hon. Okyere Agyekum questioned the motive behind making the issue public if indeed investigation is still ongoing.

He contended that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has a penchant of always making innocent people scape-goats when it is under pressure.

Citing the Ya-Na case to buttress his point, the Fanteakwa South MP recalled how "some old men were rounded up, brought to Accra, and kept in cells for months; but later it turned out that the government was under pressure because elections were approaching, and they just wanted to appear as if they were doing something".

Okyere Agyekum was convinced that the arrest of the supposed arsonists is to solve a political situation.

In a rebuttal, Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Kofi Adams expressed shock about the NPP MP’s analysis of the arsonists arrest.

He stressed the government will not sacrifice the freedom of its citizens just to score cheap political points.

The NDC Deputy scribe said the Mahama-led administration is not under pressure but only wants to ensure the interest of the state is protected.

Kofi Adams commended the security for the arrest and advocated for "citizen vigilantes" at the markets to avert such unfortunate fires.