Fire Ravages Girls’ Dormitory at Tolon Senior High School

By Linda Asante Agyemang

A devastating fire swept through the girls’ dormitory at Tolon Senior High School in the Northern Region, destroying students belongings and displacing dozens.

The Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Ali Adolf John, visited the school alongside the Northern Regional Director of Education and the Deputy Administrator of the GETFund to assess the damage and the resulting disruption to academic activities.

Speaking in an interview during the visit, the Minister stated that the incident has forced an immediate suspension of classes as authorities assess the extent of the damage and plan for the welfare of the affected students.

“The District Management, the headmaster, and school authorities have been given a timeline while the students are on a break to figure out and execute a solution before their return,” the Minister added.

Kahdija Mohammed, a student and victim of the fire, lamented losing everything, including her study books, as she prepares for her final West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams.

Another affected student, Rahinatu Daecshini, shared her distress.

“We were preparing for final WAEC exams, and in just a second, everything vanished, including my study books. I am short of words,” she said.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Mr. Adol Huhu Baba, the response was hampered by outdated equipment. “Looking at our equipment, they are very old and fall below modern standards. Some are 14 years old and above,” he explained. “Because of their unreliability, we had to deploy units from Tamale, which caused the delay in our response.”