Five perish in fire disaster in Kumasi

Kumasi, Jan 30, GNA – Five people including Madam Afua Agyeiwaa, 46, and her two children, were at Monday dawn burnt to death in a suspected arson at Bremang-Kontwima in Kumasi.

Another son of the woman, Theophilus Agyemang, a student of the University of Cape Coast, who suffered severe burns, was on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in critical condition.

The bodies of Madam Agyeiwaa, her two children, Kofi Owusu, 13, and Beatrice Agyemang, 22, Beatrice Ndaa and Efo, had been deposited at the KATH mortuary.

The husband of Madam Agyeiwaa and a suspect in the case, Kwame Agyemang, was being sought by the police.

He is believed to have set the five-bedroom house in which the deceased persons were ablaze, following threats by the woman to divorce him.

Agyeman is alleged to have locked all exits to the house and fled with the keys after starting the fire, making it difficult for the deceased persons to escape.

The Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, (MCE) Mr Samuel Sarpong, accompanied by officials of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), visited Bremang-Kontwima and consoled the bereaved family.

He assured them that the police would do everything possible to get to the bottom of the case.

Mr Nurudeen Haruna, Suame sub-Metro Coordinator of NADMO, told the MCE that fire fighters and other rescuers had it tough getting to the house.

He said when they finally broke down the main gate and entered the house, the mother and her two children were already dead while the two others died later at the hospital.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Philip Aheng-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Fire Officer, said the Ghana National Fire Service was working closely with the police to determine the cause of the fire.

GNA