Government insists arson arrests true

The government has refuted claims that the arrest of seven persons suspected of complicity in the recent fire outbreaks at some markets in Accra and Kumasi is a hoax.

The arrest of the seven, according to the government, was based on the recommendation of a preliminary report on the recent fire outbreaks, which indicated that some of the fires were natural while others were the result of arson.

But some commentators had accused the government of rushing to effect the arrests when investigations were far from concluded.

Besides, some of the commentators expressed doubt that the police had indeed made some arrests.

Reacting to the allegations Friday, a Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed told journalists at the Flagstaff House in Accra that the names and ages of the suspects as well specific places of arrest were known to the police.

He said screening was ongoing, and indicated that as soon as the screening was over, all the details about the identities of the suspects and specific places that they were arrested would be made known to the public.

The deputy minister said the government wanted to operate a transparent government, hence the decision to announce the arrest of the suspects.

Besides, he said, the fire outbreaks had affected the livelihoods of several people, and that Ghanaians needed to be informed about the developments in the investigations.

Several markets in Accra, Kumasi and other parts of the country have either been gutted or razed completely by fire in the last two months.

The whole of the Kantamanto Market and parts of the Makola No.2 and Konkomba markets in Accra were burnt down while parts of the Kumasi Central Market were also gutted by fire recently.

Following the rampant fires outbreaks, President John Dramani Mahama, directed the security agencies to commence investigations into the fire outbreaks, and the preliminary report had since been presented to the government.

Mr Murtala Muhammed, told journalists at the Flagstaff House in Accra Wednesday that the security agencies had also foiled some attempts to burn some markets and important places in parts of the country.


By Musah Yahaya Jafaru, FLAGSTAFF HOUSE