Fire engulfs Dagombaline in Kumasi

Hundreds of head porters, popularly known in Kumasi as ‘Paa-o-paa,’ have been displaced after last Friday night’s fire outbreak that razed their premises at Dagombaline, a slum in the heart of the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi.

No casualties were recorded.  At 4p.m. when the fire started, most of the residents were still at work in the markets.

Though the cause of the fire is yet to be established, eye-witnesses said the inferno could have been contained, if there were access routes to their makeshift buildings to allow the Ghana National Fire Service to get closer to the scene of the fire.

The popular Dagombaline slum is a densely populated area, dominated by head porters and scrap dealers, most of whom have travelled from the northern part of the country to seek greener pastures.

Lights out

Electricity supply to the area was cut off as soon as the fire started, a situation which affected neighbouring communities, including Aboabo Number One, Asawase and Afful Nkwanta.

The power outage to the areas was restored last Saturday, after the raging fire was doused.

Victims

One of the victims, Amina Sorogo, caught the attention of the news team, when she was heard yelling “I am finished, I am finished!”.

The 22-year-old Amina told the Daily Graphic that her entire one-year savings from the head pottering business was burnt.

According to her, she visited her hometown at Buipe yearly, usually in January, after she had made enough money during the Christmas festive season.

Unfortunately, she said, she was unable to do so last year and was hoping to make the trip by the end of this month, only to be hit by the tragedy.

Another victim, Zinaabu Ahmed, who had her baby strapped to her back, said she went out to buy food items and left her four-year-old son, who was at the time asleep in her room.

She was, however, able to save her son but completely lost all her belongings to the fire.

After fire fighters managed to put out the fire, scrap dealers were seen scavenging for supplies from the debris.