Tema jail breaks cause concern

Recent jail breaks at two police cells in Tema have led to serious concerns about the ability of the police to keep suspected criminals away from society.

Last year, 11 suspects awaiting trial escaped from the Tema Fishing Harbour police cells after breaking through the asbestos roofs while a similar incident occurred at the Tema Manhean police cells on the night of Thursday, August 3, during which six suspects escaped. A police source said in the case of the Fishing Harbour jail break, the

suspects climbed onto dustbins, removed the wooden ceilings and broke through roofing sheets before scaling the walls with a rope believed to have been provided by an accomplice outside. While the police were hunting the suspects, a second suspect escaped through the same process, this time using blankets. The suspects who broke jail last Thursday are Kwabena Dawuda, Daniel Kodi, Mumuni Kwabena, Tei Peter, Kwame Samuel and Emmanuel Fiagah, who are all facing trial for committing various crimes. Kodi recently served a two-month prison term at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison for stealing.

The source said one suspect in the Manhean cells who refused joining the escapees was threatened with death. The policeman on duty heard an unusual noise but when he went to ascertain what was going on, the escapees threw dry bat droppings into his eyes and managed to escape but the police managed to arrest arrested one of them. When contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Police Selwyn Mettle, Tema Regional Police Commander, confirmed the story and said the police were investigating whether there was any negligence on the part of the police personnel on duty.

He, however, said there was the need to fortify the roofs of all police cells with concrete to enhance security since criminals are getting more sophisticated by the day. Out of the eight police cells in Tema, only the two Harbour Police Stations and that of Ashaiman have concrete roof cells.