Ho, (Volta Region) 15 Sept.,

An eight-member committee on last June's fire disaster in the female hostel of the Ho Polytechnic today presented its report to the Volta Regional coordinating council. The committee was charged to find out the extent of damage to property of the polytechnic's and the students and to make recommendations. The committee chaired by Mr. Saviour Dzikunu, a Ho-based lawyer recommended among others, that cooking in the cubicles of the hostels be stopped while fire extinguishers, sand buckets fire alarms and smoke detectors should be provided at the polytechnic. These are to be regularly checked to ensure that they are in good working order. Security personnel, students and staff of the polytechnic are to be trained to use fire prevention appliances. A fire cadet corps is also to be formed on the campus. Fire hydrants are to be provided as well as underground water reservoirs for emergency situations. Specific recommendations were made on the female, male and private students hostels. The committee recommended that all students regulations dealing with students welfare and disciplines be made available to the students and these are to be strictly enforced and appropriate sanctioned applied in violation. More The Volta Regional Minister, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Agbenaza (rtd) who received the report thanked the committee members for their sacrifices during the period of their assignment and promised that the Regional coordinating council will study it carefully. He suggested that the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) should carry out regular inspection of public infrastructure regarding their safety and preventive preparedness and make recommendations for improvement where necessary.