Mr Mark Woyongo, the Upper East Regional Minister, on Thursday sympathized with nine shop owners in the Kassena Nankana East District whose shops were gutted out by fire in the early hours of last Monday.
Mr William Anobiga, District Officer One (DO1) of the Navrongo Fire station, said the fire was suspected to have been caused by an illegal electrical connection in one of the shops.
He said the only fire tender in his office had leakages in the tank making it difficult to hold enough water and by the time it arrived the water in it could not salvage the situation.
The Regional Minister expressed his displeasure for such action and asked why they could not call the regional office for assistance.
Mr Francis Atiga, the owner of a carpentry shop, said he had goods worth over GH¢5,000 in the shop.
Mr Woyongo gave the shop owners a packet each of roofing sheets and some grains to support their families.