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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Ghana ministry fire 'was arson' | Ghana ministry fire 'was arson' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Ghana's Foreign Ministry building has been largely destroyed in a fire police suspect was started deliberately. | Ghana's Foreign Ministry building has been largely destroyed in a fire police suspect was started deliberately. |
| Officials said no-one had been killed or injured in the blaze, which raged after working hours on Wednesday. | Officials said no-one had been killed or injured in the blaze, which raged after working hours on Wednesday. |
| Police arrested three people who were near the building, in the capital Accra, when the fire started. | Police arrested three people who were near the building, in the capital Accra, when the fire started. |
| It is thought a number of important historical documents dating back to Ghana's independence in 1957 were lost in the fire. | It is thought a number of important historical documents dating back to Ghana's independence in 1957 were lost in the fire. |
| The BBC's David Amanor, in Accra, says the twisted metal and blackened concrete pillars of the building were still smouldering early on Thursday. | The BBC's David Amanor, in Accra, says the twisted metal and blackened concrete pillars of the building were still smouldering early on Thursday. |
| He said it was the third fire at a ministry this year. | |
| Firefighters are being criticised for their response to the blaze. | Firefighters are being criticised for their response to the blaze. |
| Our correspondent says their ladders were too short - so they could reach only the third floor of the building. | Our correspondent says their ladders were too short - so they could reach only the third floor of the building. |
| Witnesses told the French AFP news agency that crews took more than an hour to arrive at the scene because of the evening traffic jams. | Witnesses told the French AFP news agency that crews took more than an hour to arrive at the scene because of the evening traffic jams. |
| President John Atta Mills visited the site of the ministry on Thursday and expressed thanks that no life was lost. | President John Atta Mills visited the site of the ministry on Thursday and expressed thanks that no life was lost. |
| "I have directed that the committee be formed to investigate the causes of this disaster," he said. | "I have directed that the committee be formed to investigate the causes of this disaster," he said. |
| He defended the fire service and said he was not interested in a witch hunt. | He defended the fire service and said he was not interested in a witch hunt. |
| Police chief Rose Bio-Atenga said arson was suspected, but did not speculate on any possible motives. | Police chief Rose Bio-Atenga said arson was suspected, but did not speculate on any possible motives. |
| "There are so many theories that are flying all over, and we welcome all manner of information from the general public," she said. | "There are so many theories that are flying all over, and we welcome all manner of information from the general public," she said. |