The Kwashieman Cluster of Schools in the Ablekuma North constituency was devastated by a raging fire in the early hours of Tuesday, December 17, 2024, resulting in significant damage to parts of the school building and the destruction of several ballot boxes.

According to Alex King Nartey, the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, the burnt building was being used as a temporary storage facility for ballot boxes related to the disputed Ablekuma North Constituency.

The fire was successfully extinguished and contained, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the school buildings due to the swift response and timely intervention of the Fire Service personnel who responded to the scene quickly after several distressing calls.

“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. We salvaged all the buildings and were left with just one that we worked so hard to ensure that the fire did not reignite.

“Officers from Anyaa, Headquarters, and from Circle came to ensure that the situation was brought under control,” Alex King Nartey noted.

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined by the authorities, although reports suggest that the fire originated in the school's library, where the ballot boxes for Ablekuma North were being stored following the conclusion of the December 7 elections.

This incident has raised suspicions, following the fiercely contested election in the constituency between the NPP’s candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, and the NDC’s candidate, Ewurabena Aubynn.

Despite Electoral Commission officials at the constituency level declaring victory for the NDC candidate, the NPP candidate strongly opposed and rejected the declaration, asserting that she was the rightful winner.

The Electoral Commission hierarchy has since declared the results as illegal, along with those from other disputed constituencies, and plans for a re-collation of the results are currently on hold.

MAG/AE



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