Teitac (U/E), Jan. 3, GNA - The blasting of firecrackers to usher in the New Year turned sour for a family at Teitac, near Bawku, when one of the firecrackers landed on the thatched roof and caught fire. The five-room building of the 12 family-member household was burnt to ashes including their personal effects, livestock and food items. It was alleged that an unknown adolescent threw the firecracker on top of the roof.

Narrating the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the head of the household, Mr. Abugri Zanga, said on the eve of the New Year, some youth had gathered some few metres away from his house to keep vigil. He alleged that one of his sons later told him that the youth had intended to blast firecrackers and burn vehicle tyres to usher in the New Year. He said some few minutes into the New Year firecrackers started blasting but he soon realized that his thatched-roof house was on fire.

Mr. Zanga explained that he raised an alarm to wake up the household to escape from the fire, but they could not remove the belongings from the rooms. He said they did not see anybody outside, adding that they possibly might have fled realizing the harm they had caused. A neighbour informed the police but their arrival with the fire service personnel was too late to salvage anything from the blazing fire. The police confirmed the incident and added that investigations were underway but no arrest had been made.