NAKED I CAME, NAKED I WILL GO
… As fire consumes all his belongings in a dawn disaster
Posted: The Chronicle |Monday, February 15, 2009
By Charles Takyi-Boadu & Bismark Bebli
Former President Jerry John Rawlings yesterday made one of the most touching and emotional statements in his life, after fire razed down his Ridge residence in Accra.
The dejected-looking former president, who had to travel at top speed from Sogakofe in the Volta Region to Accra, told newsmen in a brief interaction: “we came without… and we’ll leave without…”
Though he openly admitted it was a great and painful loss, the former president appreciated the fact that the fire did not claim life of his beloved wife, Nana Konadu, and daughter, Yaa Asantewaa, and other members of the household.
Mr. Rawlings told reporters that he was not at home when the incident happened, and that he was dealing with the “wee situation in the Sogakope area” when he received information about the fire outbreak, and had to rush down. It was however not clear the sort of ‘wee’ situation the former president was talking about.
The Spokesman for the former president, Kofi Adams, said when the fire broke out between the early hours of 4:00-4:20 a.m., the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, and one of their children, Yaa Asantewaa, were in the house.
Though the Assistant Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Prince Billy Anaglate, was not sure what might have caused the fire, the outbreak is suspected to have been caused by an electrical problem.
The National Security Coordinator, Lt Col Gbevlo Lartey (Rtd), later told The Chronicle they were looking for an alternative house within the same locality to accommodate Mr. Rawlings and his family.
Scores of people from all walks of life, including party activists, ministers of state and the nation’s chief executive, President Mills, were at the house to express their heartfelt sympathies to Mr. Rawlings and his family.
After interacting with President Mills and other influential people in the country, Mr. Rawlings boarded his Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle, in the company of his wife, and drove away to a destination that was not made known to the press.
What surprised most of the people gathered at the house, was his decision to personally drive at a time when he was psychologically traumatised. President Mills, who arrived at the scene at around 8.58 a.m., was himself shocked at the incident, and could not comprehend the situation.
In his interaction with the fire officers, President Mills asked them to launch a full-scale investigation into the outbreak, and assess the extent of damage. President Mills was later conducted around the house by the former president, in the company of Sports Administrator Herbert Mensah, Mr. Eddie Annan, and a host of others. After inspecting the extent of damage, President Mills had a brief interaction with the National Security Coordinator and left.
The Greater Accra Regional Police Commander, Rose Bio Atinga, and her men were also there in their numbers.
Some party faithful have started pointing accusing fingers at critics of the former president as those behind his woes. These party faithful, who trooped to Mr. Rawlings’ residence in droves, threatened to deal with his critics.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) has denied that the fire that gutted the former president’s house was caused by power fluctuations, and called on the public to wait for the report that would be issued after investigations into the incident.
Below is the full statement.
The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and wishes to inform the public that there was a fire outbreak on one of the disconnect Switches at the Tema Switch yard during this morning’s rainstorm at 1:15 am on Sunday
February 14, 2010.This tripped a line between Tema and Akosombo. The feedback from thesetwo events led to the loss of two units each at the Akosombo and Kpong generating Plants leading to the Tema Terminal Plant going down completely. GRIDCo engineers had to take off all loads to Mallam, Kumasi and Cape Coast to stabilise the GRID system.
This led to loss of power supply to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The system was subsequently stabilized around 10:30 am this morning, Sunday, February 14, 2010, and ECG was requested to restore power to its customers.
GRIDCo and ECG are aware of the unfortunate incident which occurred at the former president’s residence early this morning, Sunday, February 14, 2010 and fully sympathize with the former president and his family.
GRIDCo and ECG however appeal to the public that no conclusions should be drawn until investigations are concluded by the appropriate authorities concerning this unfortunate incident.