Madman Holds Health Personnel Hostage

The timely arrival of a police patrol team from Agona Swedru saved patients and personnel of Gomoa Ekwamkrom Health Center from being held hostage for a long time by a madman. Police Chief Inspector S.K. Danso, the Agona Swedru District Station Officer, told the GNA that the police received a distress call at about 0945 hours that a suspected madman, armed with an weapon, had entered the facility and held them hostage. According to Chief Inspector Danso, the patrol team got to the scene, overpowered and arrested the madman. Mrs Hannah Acquaah Arhin, Community Nursing Officer at the Health Center, said the madman, who was living close to the Center, first came to the facility with an old pestle and threatened to kill them. Mrs Arhin said all the six staff had to lock themselves up in the rooms until the madman left the place after two hours. She said when they came out the madman returned to the Centre after some few minute, this time armed with a knife, forcing the personnel and the patients to lock themselves in until the patrol team came to their rescue. Mrs Arhin appealed to the Gomoa East District Assembly to fence the facility to guarantee their safety and called for night and day watchmen for the Centre.