Kasoa: Dumsor fire burns 7-month-old baby boy

A seven-month-old baby boy has been burnt to death after fire engulfed a family’s home at Kasoa in the Central region.

The fire, according to the dead child’s parents, was caused by unstable power supply.

The child’s mother Joyce Agbavitor, has requested to see President John Mahama over the incident.

She told Joy FM’s Michaela Anderson that the situation was very hurtful and wondered why the power situation is inflicting damning consequences on Ghanaians.

The Kasoa fire accident comes on the heels of a few fire disasters in the past few weeks. Just last week, a four-year-old boy was killed in Bolgatanga in another fire disaster, while his two cousins escaped to safety. The cause of that fire is yet to be determined.

Also on December 18 last year, fire burnt a woman and her one-year-old baby to death at Mataheko in Accra, according to the Daily Graphic.

Similarly in October last year, a 27-year-old teacher, Betty Arko died in the Central region after sustaining severe burns following the explosion of a power station which caused her TV to explode and torch her home.

Ghana is currently reeling under a steadily deteriorating power crisis, which has forced power producers, transmitters and distributors to shed between 500 and 600 Megawatts of supply.

President John Mahama has attributed the crisis to lack of gas supply from the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGPco) in Nigeria, as well as low water level in the Akosombo dam, Ghana’s main hydroelectric power station, which supplies about 37 percent of the country’s total power supply.

Two of the dam’s six engines have been turned off. Director of Public Affairs of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Nana Yaa Gyantuah has urged Ghanaians to pray for rain to help situation.

Two other hydropower stations, Bui and Kpong, are also down due to low water level.