Residents of Techiman in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana are still awestruck after fire razed through the sacred forest of the Techiman Traditional Area.
The fire destroyed most parts of the sacred forest. The sacred village situated in the midst of the forest was however saved by the Ghana National Fire Service.
The fire started about 10:30 am Friday and most parts of the fenced forest were consumed by the raging fire.
It took the Techiman division of the Ghana National Fire Service who came to the rescue about three hours to bring the situation under control.
The wall of the forest prevented the fire from extending to two nearby Gas filling stations just behind the forest on the Techiman – Kumasi High way.
The Municipal Safety Officer, Sub Officer, Nicholas Anobiga Atengun said the course of the fire is not yet known but promised his outfit would conduct a thorough investigations into the fire.
An eye witness; Mr.Ameyaw tells rawgist.com he saw thick smoke coming from the sacred forest and alerted the neighbors who then called the GNFS who also reacted immediately to bring the situation under control.
Nananom performed some rituals in the forest prior to the celebration of the Apoo festival of the Chiefs and people of Techiman around April.
The Adontenhene of the Techiman Traditional Council, Nana Barfour Asare Twi Brempong II said most herbal trees had been burnt beyond recognition.
He said the Fire Service could not save the situation due to the unavailability of water in the water hydrant in the Municipal.
