A 26-year-old man, Barron Guda, popularly known as Efutu, has tragically died after being burnt in a suspected arson attack at Mempeasem, a suburb of Assin Fosu in the Central Region.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday, January 8, 2026, when fire swept through the wooden structure where the victim lived.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Police Service discovered the charred remains of the deceased after responding to a distress call from residents at about 7 a.m.
Confirming the incident, the Assin Fosu District Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rosemond Duncan, said firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze, but the victim had already passed away before they arrived.
Some residents who spoke to the media alleged foul play, claiming a group of mechanics in the area had previously threatened to burn the victim or forcibly remove him from the structure over accusations of theft.
“The mechanics warned that they would burn him or drive him out. That is why we believe the fire was deliberately set,” one resident alleged.
However, other community members disputed the arson claims, suggesting the fire might have been accidental. They reported that the deceased had earlier been seen behaving erratically while smoking, raising concerns that a cigarette could have sparked the blaze.
Tensions surged in the community after the incident, as some agitated youth—believed to be friends of the deceased—armed themselves with sticks and clubs and confronted the police, demanding the arrest of the suspected mechanics.
To prevent further unrest, the Assin Fosu District Police Command called for reinforcement from the Regional Command, Divisional Police, and the Formed Police Unit to restore order.
ASP Duncan noted that the body has been deposited at the St. Francis Xavier Hospital morgue in Assin Fosu, while investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the fire.
