A fire outbreak at Leklebi Senior High School in the Afadjato South District of the Volta Region has destroyed parts of the school’s boys’ dormitory, which also serves as accommodation for the housemaster.
The fire affected three blocks on the top floor of the building, causing extensive damage to property belonging to both the housemaster and students.
Speaking on the incident, the Assistant Headmaster of the school, Mr Emmanuel Kobi, said school authorities were inspecting ongoing construction projects on campus when they received reports of the fire.
He explained that teachers and students quickly rushed to the scene and made efforts to contain the flames while attempts were made to contact the Ghana National Fire Service. According to him, the District Chief Executive (DCE) was later contacted and assisted in reaching the Fire Service.
Mr Kobi said firefighters had to travel from a neighbouring district because the Fire Service in the host district is currently facing challenges with firefighting equipment, resulting in a delayed response.
Despite the delay, he commended the swift action of staff and students, whose efforts helped contain the blaze before firefighters arrived.
He disclosed that the fire is suspected to have started in the housemaster’s apartment before spreading to other rooms in the dormitory. The blaze completely destroyed the housemaster’s personal belongings, leaving nothing salvageable.
The Assembly Member for the area, Mr Albert Fia, described the incident as a major setback for the school, noting that it is already grappling with serious infrastructure challenges.
According to him, inadequate staff accommodation has made it difficult for teachers to reside on campus, while a shortage of classrooms continues to affect effective teaching and learning.
Mr Fia appealed to the government, education authorities, and other stakeholders to urgently support the school in addressing its infrastructure deficit. He also called for the establishment of a fire station and the provision of a fire tender for the Afadjato South District to strengthen emergency response and help prevent similar incidents in the future.
