Abesim (B/A) July 7, GNA - Fire razed down an uncompleted four bed-roomed house belonging to a woman trader at Abesim, near Sunyani on Monday. Personal belongings including television sets, car tape recorders, video decks, furniture and money were destroyed. Madam Emma Ansu, the trader, told Ghana News Agency that the cause of the fire was not immediately known, saying there was no electricity connection in the house at the time of the incident.

She explained that the meter in the building had been disconnected because of the non-payment of bills by two tenants, who occupied a completed part of the house. Madam Ansu said a neighbour rushed to inform her at about 0130 hours of seeing smoke emitting from the house when the two tenants had left the house. With the help of others we tried to get the Sunyani office of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) on telephone but to no avail as all their lines were engaged, she said.

Madam Emma said she took a taxi to Sunyani to inform the Fire Service personnel but by the time they got back the building was in flames and despite efforts made by the personnel, "virtually everything in the house was completely burnt". A source, who pleaded anonymity told GNA that some 'wee' smokers had been using some of the uncompleted buildings or houses in the area for their activities and could not rule out the possibility of they being the cause of the fire outbreak. The source added that the smokers also engage in gambling and other unproductive activities and called on the police to help get rid of "such undesirable elements" from the area.