A newly constructed 3-chamber and hall self-contained apartment in Two Streams, a suburb of Koforidua in the Eastern Region, was completely destroyed by a fire on Thursday afternoon.
The devastating blaze left all occupants, including a newlywed pregnant couple, homeless.
While no lives were lost, everything inside the apartment was reduced to ashes, except for three gas cylinders salvaged by the Ghana National Fire Service to prevent an explosion.
The fire reportedly started around 11:30 a.m. when no one was at home.
Neighbors noticed smoke billowing from the rooms around midday and promptly alerted the New Juaben South Municipal Fire Station.
Firefighters responded swiftly but encountered challenges due to the building’s layout and the low capacity of their over 25-year-old fire tender.
Additionally fire tender also arrived at the scene minutes later to augment effort of the fire fighters.
It took nearly two hours to completely extinguish the fire after they managed to break into the locked rooms for access.
Occupants of the apartment are blaming staff of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for the tragedy.
They claim the fire was caused by the “Rambo-style” disconnection of their electricity over an alleged unpaid estimated bill of GHC 6,000 on their postpaid meter which they were negotiating for payment.
Some eyewitnesses corroborated the accusations that the landlord and occupants of the house resisted disconnection by ECG staff earlier but later police accompanied the staff of the ECG to temper with the cables supplying power to the house but 30 minutes later the house was engulfed in flames.
The angry victims have threatened to sue ECG for compensation, with the Assembly Member for Two- Streams Electoral Area, Citizen Tetteh, pledging to lead them to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to demand justice.
“What I intend to do is to lead the affected residents to lodge a formal complaint with the PURC, and follow up thereafter, if need be, get lawyers and make sure justice is brought to the people”said citizen Kofi Tetteh, Assembly Member.
The Ghana National Fire Service has launched an investigation into the incident.
Preliminary findings suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault, but further analysis is ongoing to establish the exact cause.
“We can only advise the public to be cautious for we are still in the dry season and we are investigating to know the actual cause of the fire.” said New Juaben North Municipal Fire Service Commander DO II Dominic Agyapong
This tragedy has left the victims in despair, calling for urgent support and accountability from ECG and other stakeholders.
