Wood workers at the Sokoban wood village in the Ashanti region have expressed frustration and helplessness as they lament the impact of a recent fire incident on their livelihood.
According to the stranded traders, their only source of livelihood has been destroyed leaving them with huge Bank loans to repay.
On Thursday October 3, 2024, fire engulfed parts of the Sokoban wood village enclave reducing about 18 sheds and their contents to ashes.
The incident has left victims stranded as they narrate that they are occupied with the thoughts of repaying loans they took for their businesses.
The Ashanti regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service DO3 Peter Addai highlighted that investigations are ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire.
“We quickly had to call in other fire tenders for assistance. So together we had about four fire tenders assisting to salvage the situation. The fire affected 18 shops that deal mainly in plywood and other wood products and there were no casualties. We were able also to salvage 32 shops,” he stated.
Some of the affected victims spoke with Channel One News highlighting the challenges they are going through because of the incident and vowed to vote for any political party that will come to their aid.
“I have a lot of dependents. I have children going to school, my wife, my mother. My mother is a widow. I am taking care of a lot of people so this thing is going to affect me a lot. I can’t tell, I don’t know what is going to happen. I don’t know what to do,” a worker stated.
“This is going to affect the schooling of my children, one is at Legon, One is at KNUST. How will we take care of them? The government should intervene whether NPP, NDC, or Cheddar. Whichever party wants us to vote for them should come to our aid,” another worker stressed.
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