By Philip Tengzu
Wa, June 25, GNA – Several staff members of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in Wa have been left displaced and counting their losses after a fire outbreak destroyed a 16-room compound house owned by the Corporation and occupied by its staff.
The incident, which reportedly occurred between 1200 and 1300 hours on Thursday, razed all 16 rooms and destroyed the personal belongings of the occupants.
Mr. Denis Bebane, one of the victims, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he lost all his possessions, including a motorcycle, in the blaze.
Recounting the incident, Mr. Bebane said he was asleep in the bedroom while his wife was in the hall when she heard people shouting, “Fire! Fire!”
“She rushed outside and saw smoke coming from one of the rooms. She then ran back and informed me,” he said.
According to him, his wife became confused by the situation and could not react immediately, prompting him to rush into the room to rescue their child, who was also asleep.
“I wanted to salvage a few of our belongings, but thick smoke had already engulfed the house, so I had to run out,” he said.
Mr. Bebane explained that the compound house had only one exit, causing panic as residents struggled simultaneously to save their belongings.
“You can imagine confusion. Everybody was rushing to bring out their things through the same door. All my things got burnt,” he lamented.
Mr. Suala Abdul-Wahab, Upper West Regional Correspondent of GBC, said personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) responded promptly with two fire tenders and spent about an hour bringing the fire under control.
He noted that the swift response prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby houses.
Mr. Christopher Asiedu, Upper West Regional Director of GBC, told the GNA that he had reported the incident to the Corporation’s head office and was awaiting further directives.
He added that he had also informed the Wa Municipal Office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to facilitate emergency relief support for the affected staff.
Mr. Asiedu said management would meet the victims to assess the extent of their losses and determine the necessary support.
Divisional Officer Grade Three (DO III) Mr. Iddrisu Imran, Wa Municipal Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, said investigations were underway to determine the cause of the fire.
GNA
Edited by Audrey Dekalu
Reporter: Philip Tengzu, GNAÂ
[email protected]Â