Six inmates have escaped from the Konongo Divisional Police Command cells in the Ashanti Region during dawn prayers, triggering a manhunt by the police.

According to a source at the command, the escape occurred on Tuesday dawn when the inmates, who were praying inside the cells, allegedly broke open the facility and fled.

The source said officers did not anticipate that the inmates were planning to escape while appearing to be engaged in prayer.

“They were praying at the cells, not knowing they had a different motive. And so, in the process, they broke open and escaped. But investigations are ongoing,” the source told Asaase News.

The source confirmed that all six inmates had escaped and said efforts were underway to track them down.

“All six inmates escaped from the police cell, but there is a serious manhunt for them,” the source said.

The incident has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the escape, with the source describing it as a deliberate act of destruction.

The source added that security measures at the cells included thorough inspections of food brought in by visitors and restrictions on visiting hours.

However, it remains unclear how the inmates managed to break out despite these measures.

As of the time of reporting, the police had not disclosed the identities of the escapees, the offences for which they were being held, or whether any of them had been recaptured.

Investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident, while the manhunt for the six escapees continues.