Tensions flared in Konongo, in the Asante Akyem Central Municipality, when irate residents reportedly attacked firefighters who had arrived to battle a major blaze, accusing them of a tardy response.
Eyewitnesses narrated that the situation quickly escalated, with emotions running high among the crowd.
The officers were forced to contend with the dual challenge of controlling the raging flames and managing an agitated and hostile crowd.
The fire, which has left residents reeling, destroyed a building housing 11 bedrooms.
A victim of the blaze, Afual Benjamin, expressing his devastation, noted that many families have been left homeless and have lost all their possessions.
In the aftermath, questions are being raised about the capacity of emergency services in the region.
Officials revealed that the Konongo fire station has only one operational fire tender.
This single vehicle is responsible for serving approximately four constituencies, a reality that places immense strain on response times and emergency resources.
Defending the service’s actions, Divisional Officer II (DOII) Joe Bryden, stated in an interview that the firefighters responded as quickly as possible upon receiving the distress call, given the existing logistical constraints.
The attack on the first responders highlights the growing frustration within the community regarding the critical shortage of firefighting equipment in the area.