Girl, 8, dies in fire outbreak

Nkoranza (B/A) Dec. 25, GNA - Elizabeth Boakyewaa, an eight year-old pupil of God's Way International School at Nkoranza met her death when the room in which she was sleeping caught fire on December 18 this year. Akua Obiri, 14, who was also sleeping in the room sustained severe injuries and is currently responding to treatment at Saint Theresa's Hospital at Nkoranza. The fire is suspected to have been caused by a lighted candle in the room.

Mr. Kwasi Twene, an eye witness, told the Ghana News Agency that the incident occurred around 2300 hours that day when he was returning to his house with a friend. They heard people shouting for help and on reaching the house they saw it engulfed in the fire, he said. "As the area was covered with smoke, we found it very difficult to break into the room but when we managed to break the door, we were able to rescue Akua Obiri who was by then struggling to come out", Mr. Twene said. He said after rescuing Akua, they tried to enter the room again to rescue the deceased but the huge flames of the fire deterred us", he said. Mr. Twene said the charred body of Boakyewaa was found in the room. Meanwhile, the Police are investigating the incident.

Court Jails fisherman for stealing

Sekondi Dec. 25, -GNA- A Sekondi District Magistrate's Court on Monday sentenced Kwesi Seth, a fisherman resident at Abuesi Lorry Station, to 48 months imprisonment in hard labour for unlawful entry and stealing. The accused pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Eben Darko, said on December 7 this year, the accused forced opened the door of Kobina Abeka, a fisherman who had gone on a fishing expedition and went inside his room at Abuesi. He said the accused took away a travelling bag containing personal effects belonging to one Isaac Mensah who has travelled to Nigeria and left it in the care of Abeka. Chief Inspector Darko said when Abeka returned from fishing, he detected that his room had been broken into and rang and informed Mensah about it.

He said Mensah came down to Ghana to assist to find the bag and through their investigations learnt that it was Seth who stole it. Chief Inspector Darko said they made a report to the Police and on December 18, the accused was found and arrested. He said the bag was found during a search in the accused room. The Inspector said the accused also broke into the room of Kwesi Nkum at Abuesi about one and a half months ago and stole his travelling bag containing his personal belongings and a JSS certificate. He said Nkum was attending a service at the Methodist Church when the incident occurred. Chief Inspector Darko said three of his stolen shirts were found in the room of the accused when he was searched on December 18. 25 Dec. 07