By Thomas Domah, Nimba County
A fire outbreak in Ganta, Nimba County has left a business center destroyed with thousands of dollars’ worth of goods.
The fire incident, which cause has not been established, occurred early hours of Friday, January 12, 2024 at 7:20 A.M.
However, residents of Ganta, including the proprietor of the business center blamed the cross-border electricity program being administered by Jungle Energy Power (JEP).
Since the Jungle Energy Power took over the electricity project in Nimba County in 2012 to present, more than 30 houses with valuable properties have reportedly been destroyed as a result of unstable power.
Fifteen of those more than 30 business houses gutted by fire transpired in Ganta only, while the rest occurred outside of Ganta, including Sanniquellie, Saclepea, among others.
Several victims of the JEP’s cross-border electricity program expressed disappointment and frustrations in the company for what they term poor maintenance by the management and workers, who have failed to conduct public awareness on usage of electricity.
According to them, their homes and properties have been destroyed without any apology from the company.
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Speaking to reporters following the incident, the proprietress of the affected business, Princess Kakie, said they took nothing from the premises because their absence during the fire.
She narrated that they had left home when the incident occurred which might be as a result of electrical fault that she blamed on Jungle Energy Power.
In early September, 2023, AJ Business Center suffered heavy flooding that destroyed most of its businesses while fire caused by electrical fault razed two stores to the ground.
Madam Kakie explained that she has been renting the premises and was due to pay the balance rental on last week Friday when the incident occurred.
She disclosed to since they moved in the facility opposite the God’s Willing Business near Lucky Pharmacy on the main street of Ganta, they have been using the cross-borders electricity that is under the supervision of Jungle Energy Power.
An eyewitness indicated that one of the workers of the AJ Business Centers reported to job early in the morning to open the facility for business when the fire outbreak transpired.
“We were one of their workers in front of the facility, trying to put their goods outside when the current went off and later returned within less than few minutes with force which according to them, caused the incident”, the eyewitness narrated.
Jerry Gbahn, care provider for the property destroyed, referred to the incident as unbelievable and appealed to outgoing President George Weah and President-elect, Joseph Boakai for assistance to the victims.
Few months ago, fire gutted a business owned by Madam Felecia Yormie alongside several stores destroying goods valued more than US$10 million. The victims did not receive a cent as help and over 10 people were put out of business.
Ganta City is a commercial hub but lacks fire trucks to fight fire disaster.
Meanwhile, the Communication Director for Jungle Energy Power, Zawolo W. Bamakpa distanced the company fron the incident, but consoled the victms.
He said the company has never been involved in destroying homes,noting that when they heard the news and went on the scene, there was no problem from their meter to indicate imminent electrical fault.
Instead, Mr. Bamakpa accused residents of lacking fire extinguishers to protect their property from such disaster. Editing by Jonathan Browne
