A fierce nighttime blaze has swept through parts of Assin Asempanaye in the Assin North District of the Central Region, destroying homes and businesses and rendering more than 20 residents homeless.
The fire, which broke out around 10:30 pm on Thursday, tore through five metal container shops before engulfing a five-bedroom house that accommodated close to 20 occupants. Victims say they have lost nearly GH¢50,000 in cash, along with large quantities of goods and personal belongings.
Residents recount that the flames are believed to have ignited in one of the shops and quickly spread to surrounding structures. Many occupants were fast asleep and escaped only after passersby raised an alarm.
Despite desperate attempts to save their possessions, residents could do little as the fire consumed almost everything before help arrived.
Several victims blamed the extent of the damage on what they describe as a slow response from fire authorities, alleging that calls to the Assin Fosu and New Edubiase Fire Stations were unanswered during the early stages of the incident.
Although the official cause remains under investigation, Assin Fosu Municipal Fire Officer DOII Paul Tawiah noted that early findings point to power fluctuations as a likely trigger. His team has since visited the community to assess the destruction.
Addressing public complaints, DOII Tawiah admitted that the municipality’s only fire tender has been out of operation for months due to a faulty engine. He appealed to government and relevant stakeholders to intervene urgently to restore the vehicle and improve emergency response capacity in the area.
Meanwhile, the Assin North District Chief Executive, Hon. Sylvester Amakye Nyarkoh, together with NADMO officials, visited the affected families to express sympathy and pledged immediate relief support.
