Avenor Rural Bank CEO’s house destroyed by fire

Properties worth thousands of Ghana Cedis have been destroyed following a fire outbreak that engulfed the residence of Mr Sylvester Torku, the Chief Executive Officer of the Avenor Rural Bank PLC in Akatsi.

The inferno on June 5, 2026, destroyed personal belongings and other valuables in the house belonging to Mr Torku, who is the Presiding Elder of the local assembly of the Church of Pentecost.

Fire officers from the Ghana National Fire Service, who rushed to the scene without a fire tender, were commended for their efforts in helping to douse the flames.

Checks further revealed that the only fire tender within the Akatsi Municipality is currently out of commission.

Station Officer I, Mr Emmanuel Ankrah, the Akatsi South Municipal Safety Officer, explained that the fire tender had developed an electrical fault and required a new battery.

He added that plans were far advanced to fix the vehicle and get it back into operation when they were alerted about the fire outbreak.

Meanwhile, residents have raised concerns over the absence of critical emergency service vehicles in the area, including an ambulance, which they say has left the community vulnerable during emergencies.

“There have been promises from the authorities regarding an ambulance vehicle, but nothing has been seen yet,” an angry resident fumed.

Some residents are threatening to embark on a demonstration to protest the prolonged absence of these essential service machines.

The Municipal Chief Executive for the area, Mr Daniel Dagba, has since visited the scene.

He urged residents to take precautions in the handling of electrical gadgets amid the frequent power outages to help prevent similar disasters.

Authorities are yet to respond to the concerns as investigations continue.

The cause of the fire had not been determined at the time of filing this report.

However, some residents alleged that the incident could be linked to frequent power outages in the area.

GNA