Accra: Fire outbreak has completely razed down the offices of the Global Evangelical Church (GEC) and the GEC Child Development Centre at Adaklu Have in the Adaklu district. Reverend Emmanuel Akorli, Chairman of the Ho Presbytery of the Church, told the Ghana News Agency that a man who lived near the chapel detected the fire around 2330 hours on the night of Wednesday, July 22, and raised an alarm.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Fire Service Personnel from Ho were contacted, but before they could arrive, the fire destroyed everything in the two offices. The fire was eventually extinguished around 0100 hours. The incident resulted in the destruction of items worth thousands of Ghana Cedis.
The Presbytery Chairman detailed that the Church's office lost 200 plastic chairs, a public address system, two sets of bands, three pulpits, a generator, and a deep freezer. Similarly, the Child Development Centre office lost a deep freezer, a generator, two photocopy machines, three Samsung Galaxy tablets, a piano, three office cabinets, and three office chairs and tables each, along with a blender and 15 butterfly sewing machines.
Additional items reported destroyed include a rice cooker, files, a star link device, a projector and screen, a camera set, weighing scales, 40 plastic chairs, roofing sheets, a PA system, four sets of drums, a cylinder, record books, and cash amounting to GHc8,235.00. The fire is suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault.
Rt Rev Dr Prosper Samuel Dzomeku, Moderator of the Church, expressed gratitude that no lives were lost despite the significant property damage. He urged homeowners to follow Fire Service advice and replace old wirings. The Moderator also cautioned against using sub-standard wires and stressed the importance of hiring qualified electricians.
He assured that the Church would support the affected congregation and appealed for assistance from Compassion International Ghana, the sponsors of the Child Development Centre, as well as from philanthropists and organizations. An electrician, who requested anonymity, mentioned that he had previously warned the Centre's leadership about the faulty wiring, expressing no surprise upon hearing the news of the fire.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are expected to continue.