Fire destroys 40 million cedis property

Besease (Ash), Sept 25, GNA - Property worth over 40 million cedis were destroyed when fire gutted a five- bedroomed house at Besease in the Ejisu-Juaben district last Sunday.

Items lost to the fire included colour television sets, deep freezers, sewing machines, living room furniture and clothing. The fire, which was believed to have been caused by an electrical fault, also displaced 16 persons.

Narrating the incident to Miss Rose Oteng, the District Chief Executive, 60-year-old Madam Agatha Fosuhemaa, caretaker of the house, said a thick smoke was detected from one of the bedrooms around 0030 GMT.

She said within the twinkle of an eye, the ceiling of the room caught fire that spread quickly to the adjoining rooms. Madam Fosuhemaa said some members of the neighbourhood rushed to the Ejisu Police station to call in the Ghana National Fire Service from Kumasi.

Personnel of the service, however, arrived about an hour-and-a-half later when everything had been destroyed. Miss Oteng, who was accompanied by Mrs Dina Hammond, the District Co-ordinating Director, and Alhaji Ibrahim Jargisu, District Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), expressed sympathy to the fire victims.

She presented, on behalf of the district assembly and NADMO, 30 bags of cement, two bags of rice, mattresses, used clothing and five plastic buckets to the victims.