Prisoners cry for help as fire guts Kumasi Central Prisons

The Kumasi Central Prisons was on Wednesday evening thrown into a state of pandemonium as the inmates desperately struggled to run to safety as fire swept through the facility.

Firefighters worked feverishly in battling the blazing fire with a heavy security presence on hand to control the movements of the inmates.

When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the scene at about 9 p.m., smoke had engulfed the Prisons with the blazing fire threatening to cause havoc.

Heavily-armed military and police personnel surrounded the facility amidst the throwing of tear gas to prevent the inmates from escaping.

Large smoke continuously billowed into the air from the prisons which house about 2, 000 inmates as they wailed and shouted for help.

Officials of the Prisons and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) had as yet not assigned any cause for the incident.
“It is too early to draw any conclusion as we are yet to commence any investigation”, an Official of the Prisons told the GNA.

No casualty had been recorded and the extent of damage to property and number of injuries were still unknown.
The officials would not allow any media man into the facility for security and safety reasons.

Source: GNA