Drama as prisoner climbs 30-feet mast and threatens suicide

Kumasi, Jan 3, GNA - There was drama at the Kumasi Central Prison o= n Monday morning when a prisoner climbed a 30-foot mast and threatened to throw himself down unless the authorities agreed to transfer him to Nsawam. Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service supported by a fire tender, the police and other security agencies scrambled to the scene and had to employ their persuasive skills to get him to abandon the suicide mission.

After about 30 minutes of convincing, the prisoner, who his colleagues called 9320-20", climbed down. Hundreds of people gathered at the premises to catch a glimpse of the man, in his white prison uniform, nestled in the mast and holding a rop= e in the right hand. The prison authorities would not give anything out but the Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered the prisoner, who is said to be serving a 20-yea= r jail term, was unhappy about feeding there.

"20-20" was said to have initially been attached to the prison= 's pantry but following recent changes he found himself at another place. That was when the trouble started as he complained of insufficient food and demanded that he should be sent to the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, where according to him, conditions are better.

People familiar with the operations of the country prison system tol= d the GNA that it is more likely that 91'20-20" would be transferred to another facility.