Interior Minister assures swift housing support for fire victims at Accra Central

The Interior Minister has given a firm assurance that the government will urgently provide accommodation for police officers and their families affected by the devastating fire at Accra Central, as authorities work to help them rebuild their lives.

During a visit to the scene on Wednesday, the Minister expressed relief that no lives were lost in the fire, describing it as the most important outcome despite the heavy property losses.

IGP seeks urgent accommodation for 140 personnel affected by June 3 inferno

“At least, most importantly, we've not lost a life. I mean, this property, we can't replace it. If you lose a life, you can't replace life,” he said.

He commended the Ghana National Fire Service, the Police, National Security, and all security agencies for their heroic efforts throughout the night, revealing that one fire officer was injured while on duty.

The Minister disclosed that 39 police officers, together with their families, making a total of about 140 people, have been displaced by the fire.

“Our main focus now is to house them. Because there are seven officers. So, you can't leave them hanging… We are organising ourselves. Immediately, the IGP has been instructed to make sure that by the close of today or tomorrow, everybody is housed. So we are taking several temporary measures,” he stated.

He added that temporary accommodation in hotels will be arranged while longer-term rental solutions are being sorted.

The Minister also announced that the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) will soon deliver relief items to the affected families.

“I've instructed them to come with some relief items because, obviously, they've lost everything. Their food, their belongings, everything,” he said.

On the way forward, he indicated plans to rebuild a more modern and better-equipped facility.

“We are hoping our main focus now is to house them… And then we'll try and see what we can do with the building… how to quickly replace this structure with something more modern and better equipped, which could better withstand fire,” he noted.

The Minister is expected to visit the injured fire officer at the Police Hospital and also check on victims of the recent building collapse at Adenta as part of his tour of affected sites.

His comments have brought some comfort to the displaced officers and their families, many of whom lost nearly all their belongings in the fire.

NA/BAI