Calm restored to Accra Academy after fire outbreak

The rapid intervention by the National Fire Service managed to bring under control the fire that gutted some portions of Accra Academy halls on Wednesday, January 15, 2019.

The Alema and Halm-Addo Halls were partly destroyed by the fire that started at about 8: 00 pm.

There were no causalities recorded as students were studying in their classrooms during prep when the incident occurred. Mattresses and pillows, school uniforms, provisions, trucks, irons, soft drinks, biscuits, books, and reading materials were among the various destroyed by the fire.

The over 40 students affected by the fire have been relocated to other halls.

Board Chairman of Accra Academy, Wilson Teye, disclosed that school will be welcoming any form of assistance while looking into the cause of the fire.

“We need to evaluate the real cost of the fire, attend to that and seek help based on what we need. At the top of my head, we will be needing help in rehabilitating the dormitories. In the meantime, we will need help to house the young people and the things that they lost. The state has to come back and replace the government books. With their own personal belongings, the old boys association has begun talks to see how best we can help the students.

GhanaWeb's visit to the school showed that calm has been restored to Accra Academy as lessons were ongoing in the various classes. A security personnel has been deployed to keep an eye on the remaining materials which were saved in the cause of the fired.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Mohammed Adjei Sowah who visited the school on Thursday, January 16, 2019, to inspect the nature of the damage revealed that assessment will be conducted to determine which portions of the buildings are to be demolished or repaired.

“We will bring the team here, hopefully by close of day or two to come and do a quick assessment. Look at the integrity of the structure, and recommend it. Even if we’re going to pull down, part of it, they should tell us to what extent are we going to do so. We are not the technical people to determine those issues”, he stated.

Management of the school has been able to compile the list of student materials that were destroyed by the fire and are looking forward to providing relief to victims with the assistance of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).