Three out of a six unit girls dormitory block at the Gomoa Senior High Technical School (GSHTS) has been burnt completely by fire at Gomoa Dawurampong.
About 189 occupants of the girls’ dormitory have been displaced as some of the students had their belongings completely burnt.
According to the Headmaster of the school, Mr. Anthony Jacklingo Kweku Quansah, the fire started at about 7:40pm in the evening at a time when the students were learning in their classrooms.
He said the senior house mistress, Madam Florence Esi Dickson and the assistant senior house mistress, Deborah Niiquaye together with one male staff, Mr. Richard Assan were watching television at the senior house mistress’ room (which is part of the dormitory) when they sensed smoke and quickly they checked the back of the building since the mistress had cooked there earlier but they found nothing there so they came back to the room.
They later sensed an increasing level of the smoke so they came out to check again and they found out that the smoke was coming out of immediate room which was known to be the prefects’ room.
The Headmaster said when the gate was opened the room was full of smoke and immediately they raised alarm and called on him since the fire had escalated.
The Headmaster, Mr. Quansah called on the Agona Swedru Fire Service, Mankesim Fire Service and Apam Fire Service but Apam Fire Service failed to bring their Tender but they called on their colleagues in Winneba and they joined them to the school.
He said it was the presence of the three (3) fire tenders that helped to put out the fire. He however stated that though the three fire tenders tried hard to put out the fire, it took them more than an hour to put out the fire.
Mr. Quansah said there were no stampede nor casualties because the masters drove all the students from the dormitory to go for preps but the senior house mistress, Madam Florence Esi Dickson stated that one of the students fainted upon sighting the incident and yet another had a minor injury when she fell down in the wake of the rash from the classrooms. Madam Florence however stated that the two students were sent to a nearby clinic for treatment.
The Headmaster, Mr. Quansah said in the wake of the incident, some people from outside wanted to take advantage of the situation and steal some properties belonging to the students as some parents also wanted to take their wards home but when they were hinted, they the authorities of the school stopped the parents since they cannot determine the true identities of the parents in the wake of the situation.
The next day after the incident the Headmaster, the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Theophilus Adu Mensah, the District Director of Education, Mrs. Florence Nkum , the Vice Board Chairman, Mr. Jacob Wellington Assan and met together with all the staff of school to take and decision the next day after the incident.
The Vice Board Chairman, Mr. Jacob Wellington Assan who spoke on behalf of the the Board Chairman Mr. Kweku Acquaah proposed a one week break for the students to go home and come back after the period expires. This he said would enable them to take proper decision on the matter at hand.
Officials of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), together with their boss within the district, Mr. K. A. Ewusi-Wilson and the Deputy Regional Minister, Hon. Queenstar Pokua Sawyer were there to check on the extent of damage and report accordingly.
The Headmaster of the school, Mr. Anthony Jacklingo Kweku Quansah said there are two GETFUND project under construction in the school. A ten (10) unit dormitory block, one for the girls and one for the boys but they have been abandoned by the contractor for a long time due to luck of funds for the progression of the projects.
He therefore made appeals to the government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other corporate organizations to come to their aid to assist them.
He stressed that if the assistance does not come in time, it would be difficult for the school to admit new students especially as the Computer system has come out with their placement.
Source: Emmanuel Amoquandoh
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