Police make arrests over market fires
The government Thursday announced the arrest of seven persons suspected to have orchestrated the recent fire outbreaks at some markets in Accra and Kumasi.
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The suspects, whose names were not given because investigations are still ongoing, were picked up in Accra, Kumasi and other parts of the country.
The arrests, according to a deputy Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, were based on the recommendation in the plenary report on the recent fire outbreaks, which indicated that some of the fires were natural, while others were the result of arson.
Some markets in Accra, Kumasi and other parts of the country have been gutted by fire in the last two months.
The whole of the Kantamanto Market and parts of the Makola Number Two and Konkomba markets in Accra burnt down, while parts of the Kumasi Central Market were also gutted by fire within the same period.
Briefing journalists at the Flagstaff House yesterday, Mr Muhammed said investigations had confirmed that while some of the fires were accidental, others were deliberately caused by some arsonists as the President, Mr John Mahama, suspected.
Mr Muhammed said the security agencies had also foiled some attempts to burn some markets and other important places in parts of the country, adding that those who would be found culpable would be dealt with according to the law.
Meanwhile, he said, investigations by the team of experts from America were continuing.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
