Mampong (Ash), Jan 17, GNA - More than 1,000 people have been displaced and property worth millions of cedis destroyed when bushfire last Wednesday swept through two farming communities in the Sekyere West District.

Witnesses told the District National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) officials that the fire engulfed Ntrodo and Dagomba in the Afram Plains area when the inhabitants were on their farms. The District Chief Executive of Sekyere West, Mr Huruna Oppong-Boateng, said the assembly was speeding up efforts to provide them with temporary shelter. He said the extent of destruction was shocking and urged traditional authorities and assembly members to rigidly enforce byelaws on indiscriminate bush burning.

Mr Oppong-Boateng reminded the people that it was the collective responsibility of all to report those who disregarded laid down rules and regulations on bush burning for prosecution. He appealed to dormant community-based bushfire squads and volunteers to redouble their efforts to check unlawful setting of bushfires, especially during the dry season. Mr Oppong-Boateng appealed to non-governmental organisations, philanthropists and others for financial and material assistance to the disaster victims.

He presented plastic buckets, plates, cups, blankets, lanterns and basins to the people and said the assembly would soon take delivery of tents to provide temporary accommodation for displaced families.