A fire outbreak in the early hours of Tuesday, December 17, swept through the Kwashieman Cluster of Schools in Accra destroying several ballot boxes stored on the premises.
The incident has escalated tensions surrounding the already contested parliamentary race in the Ablekuma North constituency, one of the 12 disputed constituencies following the December 7 general elections.
Reports indicate that the fire originated in the school’s library, which had been temporarily converted into a storage facility for the Ablekuma North constituency ballot boxes.
Eyewitnesses, many of whom live nearby, reported seeing thick smoke and flames engulfing the school as they woke up. An emergency call was placed to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), prompting a swift response.
Firefighters from multiple stations, including Anyaa, Circle, and Headquarters, were dispatched to the scene. Alex King Nartey, the GNFS Public Relations Officer, confirmed that the fire was quickly brought under control, and further efforts were made to prevent it from reigniting.
This development has raised concerns about the security of the electoral materials in the constituency, and investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.
“Information we have gathered indicates that the school was used to store ballot boxes, and so that is why we are still here and the flames have been subdued,” Alex Nartey confirmed. “We salvaged all the buildings and were left with just one that we worked so hard to ensure that the fire did not reignite,” Nartey added.
He praised the coordinated efforts of the firefighting teams, noting the significant challenge they faced in containing the flames.
The destruction of ballot boxes has amplified tensions surrounding the already controversial Ablekuma North parliamentary race, where the stakes remain high.
The contest pits the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Ewurabena Aubynn. Both candidates had previously claimed victory, further complicating matters.
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