Over 150 people displaced by bushfire in Atebubu

Bono region correspondence

More than 150 people at Yabraso a farming community in the Atebubu-Amantin Municipality of the Bono East region have been displaced by bushfire.

The raging fire as a result of the dry harmattan winds swept through the entire village burning over 50 households.

The residents who are all predominantly farmers and were in their farms at the time of the inferno returned to the village to witness the havoc caused by the fire.

With no alternative source of shelter, they are forced to sleep in the open and at the mercy of mosquitoes and other insects.

On the cause of the fire, residents allege that the fire started from the African Plantation for Sustainable Development (APSD), a company growing eucalyptus as biomass fuel in the area.

They reveal that the company in an attempt to protect its 42,000 hectares plantation started a controlled burning but the fire got out of hand and spread to the village, an allegation the company has partly refuted.

The Assembly Member for Area, Honourable Nimakohene Andrews, has accused the company of trying to shift blame when all indications are that the fire started from their end.

According to him, the company did not only fail to follow the stipulated rules in the construction of fire belt but they also did little to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas and so cannot absolve themselves from any blame.

He reveals that he has personally lodged a complaint against the African Plantation for Sustainable Development (APSD) and is hopeful and getting some compensation for the people.

Meanwhile, the Municipal NADMO Co-ordinator for the Atebubu-Amantin Municipality, Mr Musah Shaibu tells Ghanaweb that his outfit as a matter of urgency has presented some relief materials to the affected community.

Mr Shaibu debunked assertion by residents that little is being done by the authorities to get justice for them and called for calm.

He reveals that both the Police and the Ghana National Fire have already done scene assessment and a committee has also been set up by the Assembly to investigate the possible cause of the fire.