Yam Farmers at Blajai in the Kpandai district of the Northern Region who have lost over 40 barns of yam to fire have appealed to the government to support them to recover their losses and enable them to take care of their families.
They have equally appealed to the security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incidents that happened simultaneously at different locations.
“We believe that there are people behind this as we saw containers that had some drops of petrol, which means it was well orchestrated to deny us the benefits of our toils in our farms.”
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday, Robert Gbanzaba, Chairman of the Kpandai branch of the Konkomba Youth Association (KOYA) appealed for assistance, urging individuals and organizations to come to the aid of the Blajai community.
He said the blaze, which was suspected to be a deliberate act of arson, destroyed approximately 72,000 yam setts and tubers, affecting multiple farmers and their families.
He named some of the affected farmers as Elijah Nbenba, Nakoja Nlanjo, Sajah Bijakie, Kwaku Nyong, Solomon Nyong, and John Ntima, all in the Blajai community of the Kpandai district.
“The presence of petrol bottles among the yams suggests that the fire was a coordinated act of arson, rather than an accident.
The incident has left the community reeling, with women and children facing a dire situation. Madam Doris Bindefrim highlighted the plight of women and children, who have been left with no source of income or food except for gari.
Agomada Kwame Kumah, Deputy National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) District director at Kpandai, has confirmed to the GNA that NADMO had taken steps to address the fire incident.
He said the incident had been officially reported to the Kpandai District police Command, and Ubor Bignali Magan, the chief of Konkombas at Kpandai.