The year began with lots of fire outbreaks in different parts of the country. None of these fires was fatal except the one at Osu Salem in Accra.

In that outbreak, two children, a nine-month-old and a six-year-old lost their lives, leaving their family devastated.

“We had great plans for the family; And if I look at what has happened, it’s obvious everything has been thrown into confusion,” Emmanuel Aryee, father of the deceased, said this on 2^nd January when fire razed down his family home.

For most families across the country, the year began on a good note as they made merry and celebrated new hopes and dreams.

However the Aryee family couldn’t do same as fire took the lives of their children and destroyed property.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey, Accra Mayor, Alfred Oko Vanderpuye and officials of the assembly today visited the family to show their sympathy.

The delegation presented items, including two bags of rice, two gallons and two bags of maize to the family as they prepare to hold a funeral service on Thursday 8 January for the two children.

“The beginning of the year has resulted in the loss of lives. The lives of young children and we’ve all been affected. We’re here to sympathise with you. It’s our prayer that the good Lord will wash away your tears and mend your sorrows,” Dr Vanderpuije said.

“Thursday you’ll lay your children to rest and [if there is] anything that we can do to support [you], we’ll do [it].”

Father of the children, Emmanuel Aryee began tearing as he said "it's very difficult to lose my two children."

Poor electrical wiring

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has blamed the recent fires on poor electrical wiring, among others.

The GNFS is urging what it calls audit of electrical wiring in homes and offices across the country.