Another fire outbreak has ravaged a section of the Kumasi Racecourse Market, barely three months after a similar disaster that destroyed shops and properties worth tens of thousands of cedis.
The latest incident, which occurred around 12:30 am on Monday affected over 180 shops.
The inferno according to witnesses consumed metal container shops, and other make-shift structures destroying foodstuffs in stock including bags of rice, gallons of cooking oil, local spices, onion, pepper.
It took a combined team of firefighters and three tenders, several hours to douse the contain the fire from spreading to other properties. No casualties were recorded in the process
Power FM Ashanti regional correspondent, Nana Appiah who rushed to the scene however said bystanders, disappointed by the slow response to SOS calls, pelted stones at the Fire officers resulting in the injury of at least one.
The cause of the fire is not immediately known but the Fire Commander in charge of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, DO3 Ben Boadu, observed with concern poor safety practices within the market, which slow down rapid responses to such disasters.
He noted that, they received a distress call from some traders around 2: am on Monday March 11, 2024 and rushed to the scene.
“We had difficulties accessing the scene but manage to stop the fire after getting full access to the place, it took my men about five hours to douse off the ravaging fire” DO3 Ben Boadu explained
Fire Commander in charge of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital also condemned emerging practices where firefighters, are subjected to attack without recourse to technical challenges that may genuinely hinder their operations.
Queen mother of the Racecourse Market Traders Association, Nana Yaa Kyeiwaa in a brief interview appealed to government, through the office of the Chief of Staff to support those heavily affected.
She noted that, victims of the fire outbreak have lost millions of Ghana cedis and will find it difficult to get back on their feet without help.
So far five people has been arrested for attacking the fire service personnels.
By: Nana Appiah//myxyzonline.com//Ghana
