Security agencies have started investigating one Seth Kwesi Ofosu, whose cigarette allegedly sparked the fire at the GOIL filling station near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of Ghanaians lost their lives on June 3<\/a><\/strong><\/span> after the GOIL filling station caught fire amidst heavy rains.<\/p>\n [contextly_sidebar id=”2JybKJIoxacq5UMYU3Xjp2WCvBHe7CDd”]The committee set by the government to investigate the cause of the fire has attributed it to\u00a0\u201cthe\u00a0dropping of the lit cigarette stub<\/a><\/strong><\/span> by Seth Kwesi Ofosu onto the floating fuel.\u201d<\/p>\n The Chairman of the committee, Mr Justice Isaac Delali Douse at a press conference explained that \u201cwe are not in the position to determine his [Ofosu] actual status so we have handed him to the security agencies to investigate and arrive at a conclusion whether or not he intentionally caused arson.\u201d<\/p>\n The Committee has submitted it’s report to the Minister of Interior, Mark Owen Woyongo.<\/p>\n Damage<\/strong><\/p>\n Justice Douse said five houses, including the Goil filling station suffered various degrees of damages, as a result of the fire, valued at GH1,658,847.00, adding that, other properties suffered minor damages, which have not been valued.<\/p>\n He said 17 motor vehicles, including a fuel tanker were burnt beyond repair, a mini mart located within the filling station, Bediako Pharmacy and the Honest Chef Restaurant were completely destroyed.<\/p>\n The chairman of the committee also said in all 154 persons lost their lives with 154 others sustaining various degrees of injuries.<\/p>\n Recommendation:<\/strong><\/p>\n The committee recommended that the Odaw River should be dredged and plastics such as carrier bags, water dispensers and cooked food containers should be banned.<\/p>\n The committee also recommended the provision of air ambulances and helicopters fire fighters, which should be managed by the Ghana Air Force and urged government to set up a fund to cater for the injured and deceased families.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Godwin A. Allotey \/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n