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The store room of the Wenchi branch of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in the Brong Ahafo region has been burnt into ashes.

The fire destroyed properties, including computers, printers, receipt books and an undisclosed amount of money.
According to The Chronicle sources, the fire occurred a few days after the staff had been informed about an impending audit of their operations.

The Deputy Wenchi Municipal fire commander, A.D.O.I Florence Ankomaa, reportedly told Wenchi-based Royals FM that it is too early to suspect arson.

Madam Florence Ankomaa allegedly called on residents in and around Wenchi to assist the fire service with credible information to unravel the mystery surrounding the fire.

But, when The Chronicle called her on phone for an official update on the incident, the reporter was met with the response: “Where did you get my number from?”

When this reporter explained to her that media houses have a compilation of public officers and they are contacted any time there are issues concerning their officers and operations, the Deputy Fire Commander continued: “Oh! Ok, then you should get the information from where you got my number.” She, however, added that her boss was in a meeting at the time I called, and that I could call later for the information I required.

The Brong-Ahafo regional operations Manager of the NHIA, Mr. George Opong Danquah, nevertheless, told the Wenchi office of the NHIA was notified of an audit, and hours later the store room was burnt.

“This is not the first time that such an incident has been recorded.

In fact, not too long ago, when the national office informed the Techiman NHIA office about an audit exercise, their office was burnt, very similar to the Wenchi fire, which occurred after they were prompted about an audit,” Mr. Danquah told Dickson Smith, host of Space Morning Flight on Wednesday.

When this reporter called the public relations officer of the authority, Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Agyemang, for his comments on the matter, he replied: “The matter is under investigation and we are not supposed to talk about it.”

Meanwhile, callers into various radio programmes in Sunyani have expressed outrage about the Wenchi NHIA fire outbreak, and appealed to the authorities to dig deep into the matter and deal with anyone found culpable.