By Nadia Ntiamoah
Six remand prisoners have escaped from police cells at Konongo in the Asante Akyem Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region, triggering a manhunt by security personnel and renewed concerns about security arrangements at the facility.
The incident, reported on Thursday, October 15, 2026, has prompted the Municipal Security Council to consider immediate and long-term measures to strengthen the police cells, improve surveillance and prevent similar escapes.
According to information provided by local authorities, the prisoners are suspected to have escaped through a hole allegedly dug through the cell area towards detached washrooms at the police station.
The inmates reportedly used the opening to move out of the cells before jumping off and fleeing the premises.
Following the discovery of the escape, the police launched a manhunt that resulted in the arrest of one of the six prisoners at a suburb in Kumasi. The remaining five were still at large at the time of the report.
The identities of the escapees, the offences for which they were being held and the precise circumstances under which the suspected hole was created were not disclosed in the initial account.
The incident has placed the security of the Konongo police facility under scrutiny, particularly regarding the physical condition of the cells, the monitoring of detainees and the arrangements for preventing unauthorised exits.
Asante Akyem Central Municipal Chief Executive, Dr Ebenezer Ekow Aidoo, confirmed the incident and disclosed that the Municipal Security Council was taking steps to reinforce the walls of the police cells.
The proposed reinforcement is intended to address possible weaknesses in the facility’s structure and reduce the risk of further escapes.
Dr Aidoo also announced plans for longer-term security improvements, including the construction of a new police station to strengthen policing infrastructure in the municipality.
He said the council would engage the police to increase the number of officers on duty, particularly during the night, when adequate staffing and supervision are important for maintaining security at detention facilities.
The planned increase in personnel is expected to support closer monitoring of detainees and improve the police service’s ability to respond promptly to security incidents.
In addition to reinforcing the cells and reviewing staffing arrangements, the Municipal Security Council intends to improve lighting around the police station and install surveillance cameras.
The proposed cameras are expected to help officers monitor activity around the facility, identify suspicious movements and support efforts to prevent future incidents.
The measures outlined by the MCE combine physical improvements to the detention facility with additional personnel and surveillance equipment.
