Ganta, Nimba County – A fire outbreak has devastated a major business center in Ganta, Nimba County.
By Franklin Doloquee/Nimba County
The fire incident occurred during the morning hours of Friday, January 12, 2024, at 7:20 AM, and the cause of the fire is yet to be disclosed. However, residents of Ganta and the business owner blame the Cross-border electricity controlled by Jungle Energy Power (JEP).
Since 2012, Jungle Energy Power (JEP) has managed the electricity project in Nimba County. Over thirty houses and valuable properties have reportedly been destroyed due to the intermittent electricity supply in the county. Out of the thirty businesses affected, 15 are located in Ganta, while the rest are spread outside Ganta, including Sanniquellie, Saclepea, among others.
Several victims of the cross-border electricity provided by Jungle Energy Power (JEP) expressed disappointment and frustration with the company. They cited poor maintenance and a lack of public awareness about the proper use of the electricity currents. According to them, their homes and properties have been destroyed without any accountability or assistance from the company.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Princess Kakie, the owner of the business, explained that they were unable to salvage anything from their business centers due to their absence at the facility. She blamed Jungle Energy Power (JEP) for the incident.
In early September 2023, the AJ Business Centers were affected by water disasters, destroying most of their business. Allegedly, Jungle Energy Power (JEP) further damaged the remaining goods in the two stores.
Kakie revealed that they were renting the facility and were due to pay their balance on Friday morning when the incident occurred. Since moving into the facility opposite the God Willing Business and around the Lucky Pharmacy on Ganta’s main street, they have been using the cross-border electricity controlled by Jungle Energy Power (JEP).
Eyewitness testimony indicated that one of the workers of AJ Business Centers came in the morning to open the facility and put goods outside when the incident occurred.
Jerry Gbahn, a care provider for the destroyed property, referred to the incident as unbelievable. He is calling on the government, including President-elect Ambassador Joseph Boakai and President George Weah, for assistance to the victims of the Friday incident.
Our Nimba County correspondent learned that most of Ganta’s leading businesses have been affected by the fire outbreak. A few months ago, a business owned by Madam Felecia Yormie, along with several stores, was gutted by fire, causing a loss of goods worth over ten million United States dollars. No assistance was provided to the victims, leading over ten of them to go out of business, along with several others.
Ganta, one of the leading cities outside the national capital, lacks fire trucks to rescue those involved in businesses in the city.
Over 15 victims of the Ganta fire incidents are all accusing Jungle Energy Power (JEP).
When contacted, the Communication Director for Jungle Energy Power, Zawolo W. Bamakpa, denied the company’s involvement in the incident but extended sympathy to the victims. He distanced the company from such practices, stating that there were no problems with their meter that would lead to such incidents.
Bamakpa accused the residents of lacking firefighters, stating that the company continues to educate them to buy fire trucks, but they have refused to do so.