26-year-old man dies in fire outbreak at Assin Fosu, arson suspected

A 26-year-old unemployed man, popularly known as Efutu, has been burnt to death in a fire incident suspected to be an act of arson at a ghetto in Assin Fosu in the Central Region.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday when fire engulfed the wooden structure in which the deceased was sleeping. His burnt remains were later found after residents alerted the police and the Ghana National Fire Service.

Firefighters and police personnel arrived at the scene around 7:00 a.m., but by the time the fire was brought under control, the structure had already been completely destroyed.

Confirming the incident, the Assin Fosu District Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rosemond Duncan, said the fire service was promptly called to the scene following a distress call from residents.

“When the fire service arrived, the wooden structure had already been burnt down,” she explained.

The incident has sparked mixed reactions among residents, with some suspecting foul play. According to them, a group of mechanics operating in the area had earlier threatened the deceased over allegations of theft.

One resident claimed that the threats were serious and repeated, fueling suspicions that the fire was deliberately set.

“The fitters had warned that they would either burn him alive or force him out of the place, so this did not come as a surprise to us,” the resident alleged.

However, other residents dismissed the arson claims, suggesting the fire may have started accidentally. They said Efutu was seen earlier behaving strangely while smoking, raising the possibility that a lit cigarette may have ignited the blaze.

Following the incident, tension heightened in the area as some angry youth, believed to be friends of the deceased, confronted police officers with sticks and clubs, demanding the immediate arrest of the mechanics.

To forestall any further disturbances, the District Police Command requested reinforcement from the Regional Command, the Divisional Police, and the Formed Police Unit (FPU).

ASP Duncan confirmed that the body has been deposited at the St. Francis Xavier Hospital morgue in Assin Fosu, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the fire and whether criminal intent was involved.