Fire Destroys Ballot Boxes In Kwashieman Schools, Escalating Tensions In Ablekuma North
- Dec 17, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 14, 2025
A fire outbreak in the early hours of Tuesday, December 17, ravaged the Kwashieman Cluster of Schools in Accra, destroying several ballot boxes stored at the premises. The incident has deepened tensions surrounding the already contested parliamentary election in the Ablekuma North constituency, one of 12 disputed constituencies following the December 7 general elections.
Reports suggest the fire started in the school’s library, which had been temporarily converted into a storage space for the constituency's ballot boxes. Eyewitnesses living nearby said they woke up to thick smoke and flames engulfing the school, prompting an emergency call to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).
Firefighters from Anyaa, Circle, and Headquarters stations were quickly dispatched to the scene. Speaking to the press, GNFS Public Relations Officer Alex King Nartey confirmed that the fire had been contained and efforts were made to prevent reignition.
“Information we have gathered indicates that the school was used to store ballot boxes, and so that is why we are still here and the flames have been subdued,” Nartey explained.
He praised the coordinated efforts of the firefighting teams in salvaging most of the structures.
The destruction of ballot boxes has triggered heightened concerns about the security of electoral materials in the constituency. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, with stakeholders demanding answers amid suspicions of foul play.
The already heated Ablekuma North parliamentary contest, featuring the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie and the National Democratic Congress's (NDC) Ewurabena Aubynn, now faces further uncertainty. Both candidates had earlier declared victory, adding to the stakes and controversy.
As tensions escalate, Ghanaians await clarity on the incident’s implications for the disputed results.
Comments