Bekwai court jails man 10 years for setting rented room ablaze

The Bekwai Circuit Court in the Ashanti Region has sentenced 27-year-old Bismark Adu to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for setting fire to a rented room, destroying property worth GH¢300,000 and cash amounting to GH¢15,000.

Adu was found guilty of causing unlawful damage after a trial presided over by His Honour Isaac Appiatu.

Prosecuting, Detective Chief Inspector Paul Bagao told the court that the complainant, Owusu Evans, a commercial motor rider, lived with his wife, Mercy Owusu, in a rented single room in the convict’s family house at Manso Akropong, near Antoakrom in the Amansie West District.

The court heard that the couple had occupied the room for about five months without any disputes.

On Sunday, August 30, 2026, at about 8:30 a.m., Evans left home to buy an item from a nearby shop while his wife and other occupants of the house attended church.

When he returned, he found Adu holding a machete after chopping the wooden door to his room into pieces. Adu reportedly explained that he had previously lived in the room and wanted to retrieve some belongings.

He then forced his way into the room but found nothing. A confrontation ensued, during which Evans overpowered him and drove him away.

Evans subsequently left to look for a carpenter to repair the damaged door. However, when he returned approximately 20 minutes later, he found the room on fire.

He attempted to save his belongings through a window but discovered that it had also been damaged with a machete. Despite his calls for assistance, the fire destroyed personal belongings valued at GH¢300,000 and GH¢15,000 in cash.

After the fire was extinguished, a bottle containing traces of petrol was found in the room. The Ghana National Fire Service was later invited to inspect the scene.

With support from fellow commercial motor riders, Evans pursued and apprehended Adu as he was returning to Antoakrom. He was subsequently handed over to the Antoakrom Police and arrested without a warrant on August 30, 2026.

Adu appeared before the Bekwai Circuit Court on September 2, 2026, charged with causing unlawful damage under Section 172(1)(b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

Following the trial, the court convicted him and sentenced him to 10 years in prison with hard labour.