Keta: The boys' dormitory at Anlo-Afiadenyigba Senior High School in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region was razed by fire, leaving final-year students bereft of personal belongings.
According to Ghana News Agency, the incident, which occurred at about 1300 hours, destroyed items including chopboxes, money, mobile phones, school uniforms, and shoes among others. Mr. Gabriel Kuatsikor, the Assembly Member for the area, stated that the blaze has deeply frustrated candidates who are sitting for their final-year examinations.
"The dormitory which burnt is where the final year boys were living. All their properties were burnt; some students who were nearby helped in putting the fire off. We need support for the affected students," he said. The fire reportedly broke out while many of the affected students were either in class or writing their final year examination papers, increasing anxiety among family members and school authorities.
Mr. Kuatsikor mentioned that the exact cause of the fire remains unknown while investigations by relevant agencies, including Keta-Anloga Ghana Fire Service and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), are underway to ascertain the situation. He thanked the Municipal Fire Service for their quick response, which prevented the inferno from spreading to adjacent structures.
No casualties have been reported, but several properties belonging to the students were destroyed, calling for immediate attention and psychological treatment for the final year students. Mr. Kuatsikor noted that the headmaster was in Accra attending a Public Accounts Committee meeting at the time of the fire and was not on campus, while other school administrators joined local officials and emergency responders at the scene to assist affected students.
NADMO officials in the Municipality visited the school to assess the damage and determine the needs of the displaced students, with officials expected to provide immediate support following the assessment. Mr. Wisdom Seade, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), who inspected the scene, assured that necessary support would be provided and that a report would be sent to the Regional NADMO for urgent action. He also appealed to individuals and organisations to assist the students during the recovery period.
The Municipal Assembly stated that it would initially provide mattresses and mosquito nets to affected students while awaiting further assistance from regional and national agencies. Authorities also indicated plans to source replacement uniforms and essential items to minimise disruption to the candidates' preparation.
Students expressed worry and appealed for support from the public, alumni, and non-governmental organisations to help replace lost study materials and personal effects. They called for swift action to ensure their studies and examinations are not further disrupted. Investigations into the cause of the fire are underway, with school authorities, the Fire Service, and disaster management officials collaborating to determine the origin and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.