Zuarungu Nursing Students Still Displaced a Week After Fire Guts Hostel

A week after a devastating fire engulfed the girls’ hostel at Zuarungu Nursing and Midwifery Training College, over 120 female students remain displaced and struggling to rebuild their lives.

The inferno, which occurred on Monday, September 29, 2025, reduced several hostel rooms to ashes, destroying books, uniforms, mattresses, and personal effects. While no casualties were recorded, students – many far from home, lost nearly everything overnight.

Since the incident, the college’s management has continued to appeal for help from government agencies, NGOs, and the public, requesting mattresses, clothing, mosquito nets, and temporary accommodation. Some affected students are still being housed by colleagues or in makeshift spaces within classrooms.

During a visit to the scene, Upper East Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Mohammed Issahaku, assured management of government’s commitment to support the victims and restore calm. The Regional Fire Commander, ACFO II Sagoe, also pledged that the Ghana National Fire Service would complete a full investigation and introduce preventive measures across training institutions.

However, as of early October, the cause of the fire remains undetermined, and no official relief package or reconstruction plan has been announced. This has fueled concerns among the public and the nursing education community about campus safety standards, emergency preparedness, and timely response to student welfare crises.

One Nigerian student, speaking earlier to GBC Ghana, recounted that she escaped with nothing but her phone and the clothes she was wearing. “We don’t even know where we’ll stay for the rest of the semester,” she said.

Observers say the tragedy exposes the need for stronger fire safety systems in educational facilities and mental health support for students who experience sudden trauma and displacement.

As the new academic term continues, both students and staff await tangible action, hoping that promises of relief and investigation results will soon translate into real recovery.

Sources: GBC,MyJoyOnline, AdomOnline