Nkawkaw, July 24, GNA - Sixteen inmates, including some armed robber suspects, in lawful custody at the Nkawkaw Central Police Station cells, broke jail and managed to escape at the early hours of Sunday while the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Mr Patrick Acheampong, was on a two-day official visit to the Nkawkaw Divisional Police Command. However, three of the inmates had been arrested at Ampekrom, a village near Nkawkaw, following an announcement on the local FM radio stations.

Briefing the press on Monday, the Nkawkaw Divisional Police Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) William Daah, said at about 0540 hours on July 23, one of the two police personnel on the duty at the counter opened the cell gate to collect some containers to fetch water for the inmates to wash themselves and also to clean the cell. He said as soon as the padlock of the iron gate was opened, some of the inmates rushed and poured some substance, suspected to contain pepper onto the police officer's face, blinding him before pushing him down thereby allowing the inmates to escape from custody.

The Crime Officer said efforts were being made to re-arrest the inmates, who were remanded by the Circuit and District Courts in the area, for trial and appealed to the general public to assist the police with the necessary information leading to their re-arrest.