Sekondi jail break is due to human error - Mr Amidu

Sekondi, May 5, GNA - Mr Martin Amidu, Minister for Interior, on Wednesday said government endorses the decision by the Western Regional Security Committee to establish an independent committee to investigate the jail break at the Sekondi Central Prisons. Addressing a press conference after visiting the prison at Sekondi, he said, it was necessary to set up such a committee to find out exactly what happened.

Mr Amidu, who was flanked by Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, the Regional Minister and members of the Regional Security Committee, said the Prisons Service had already established a committee to conduct an internal investigation of the incident. He said the committee was expected to collaborate with the independent committee. Mr Amidu said so far, facts on the ground showed that human error on the part of prison officers accounted for the jail break and that it was not instigated by a visitor of three of the jail breakers. He said the main gate in the inner perimeter of the prison was not locked, which gave way for the convicts to have access to prison officers, rifles and ammunitions.

Mr Amidu said five of the jail breakers have been re-arrested and five others were still on the run.

He advised the public to report to nearest police stations when they saw rifles or ammunitions hidden in the bush adding if they refused to do so, they would deemed to have collaborated with the jail breakers. Mr Amidu said it was the policy of government to build new prisons and said the jail breakers could not be transferred to the just completed Ankaful Maximum Security Prison because it was yet to be opened. He said the Ankaful Prison was not opened because of lack of staff quarters. 5 May 10