The 21-year-old man who stabbed a firefighter during efforts to contain a fire that ravaged an eight-room, one-storey building at Adjiringanor near Ability Square in Greater Accra last Friday [Nov 14], has been remanded into police custody by the Achimota Circuit Court.

Sampson Azumah, who has been charged with causing unlawful harm, pleaded not guilty.

He is expected to reappear in court on December 3, 2025. The prosecution opposed bail, arguing that Azumah had no fixed place of abode and was therefore unlikely to appear for trial if released.

The prosecution further submitted that granting bail could allow the accused to interfere with witnesses residing within the same community.

After hearing submissions from the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Emmanuel Addo, and reviewing the circumstances of the case, the trial judge ordered that Azumah be remanded into police custody.

Chief Inspector Addo told the court that the complainant, Leslie Adjei Tetteh, is a Fire officer residing in Teshie in Accra, while Azumah is unemployed and a resident of Adjiriganor in the East Legon area.  

He said on November 14, 2025, at about 11:30 pm, the complainant, stationed at the Ghana National Fire Service Headquarters, was among firefighters who battled a residential fire outbreak. The house belongs to Yvonne Okoro, he said.  

The prosecutor said the scene attracted many people within the community, including the accused person.  While the firefighters were trying to douse the fire, bystanders were also pelting the officers with stones.  

He said the complainant, while trying to fold the water hose of their fire tender after the fire had been brought under control, saw Azumah coming out of the crowd and attacked him for deliberately sprinkling water on him.

Azumah, who was aggressive, did not wait for the complainant to explain but pulled a screwdriver  from his waist bag and stabbed the complainant on his left arm and fled.  

The prosecution said the complainant was rushed to the hospital for treatment, and a report was made to the Police at East Legon, and a medical report was issued to him to seek further medical care.  

Prosecution said on November 17, 2025, Azumah was arrested at his hideout. During investigations, Azumah admitted the offence, and the screwdriver used in committing the offence was retrieved.