The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has revealed that its preliminary investigation indicates that the devastating fire at the Kwashieman Cluster of Schools in Accra was deliberately set. This disclosure was made by ADO1 Alex King Nartey, a member of the GNFS Communications Team, during an interview on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s Frontline program, hosted by Kwabena Agyapong.
The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Tuesday, December 17, razed through the school’s library. The facility had been temporarily repurposed as a storage site for ballot boxes used in the December 7 general elections from the Ablekuma North constituency.
Mr. Nartey stated that preliminary findings point to arson, though the investigation is ongoing. “Among many factors, arsonists can cause fires. Arson is something we consider when investigating fire outbreaks. In several cases, we discovered that fires were started by arsonists who had been arrested,” he explained.
He clarified that while the early findings strongly suggest deliberate action, the GNFS cannot conclusively label the incident as arson until the investigation is completed and suspects are identified or apprehended. “For now, our preliminary investigation shows the school was set on fire by an arsonist. However, we cannot make a definitive conclusion until the investigation is fully concluded,” Mr. Nartey added.
The fire has sparked public concern, particularly due to the destruction of the ballot boxes, raising questions about security protocols for election materials. The GNFS assured the public of a thorough and impartial investigation to determine the cause and identify any individuals involved.
Authorities have urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward to assist with the investigation.
