Fire Guts Lands Commission Offices in Accra

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Fire Guts Lands Commission Offices in Accra

The building which is near the Cantonments post office is said to have been badly destroyed along with several documents belonging to the Lands commission.

According to the night watchman, the fire started about 5am. He said the fire started in one department and quickly spread to other departments.

Seven offices serving the records department, the accounts and the client service units were razed, destroying property including air conditioners, files, furniture and computers worth thousands of Ghana Cedis.

DO1 Anna Obeng, District Fire Officer at the Ghana Trade Fair District at La in Accra, said six pumps including one from the the military were exhausted before the fire was brought under control, adding that two more tankers from the Fire Service Headquarters had also been brought in as stand-by to avert any eventuality.

Deputy Superintendant of Police Freeman Kumashie, deputy operations commander for Accra Police Region, said police personnel had been deployed to maintain law and order and to protect the offices.

Speaking to Radio Ghana, The Chief Executive of the Lands Commission, Dr. Odame Larbi says the fire that gutted the Regional office did not destroy documents of land owners. Monies were not also burnt because the Commission does not keep monies in the Accounts office.

Dr. Larbi said the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

Meanwhile, the Acting Chief Fire Officer, Brigadier John Bosco Guyuri, has warned fire personnel who by-pass the channels of communication to air their grievances that they will be dealt with according to the laid down service rules and regulations, if found guilty.

He told Radio Ghana that Fire Service is not a jungle but a service whose rules must be respected.

He explained that the welfare fund which some personnel are complaining about is not being mismanaged.

Source: GBC/GNA