Five persons are in the grips of the police for attacking officers of the Ghana National Fire Service deployed to bring under control, fire at the Racecourse Market in Kumasi.
The Monday dawn fire ruined the livelihood of over one hundred traders.
For six hours, fire fighters had to battle it all out to contain the spread.
By the time the raging inferno was brought under control, one hundred and eighty shops had been burnt beyond recovery.
The Ghana National Fire Service said an attack on its officers contributed to delays in attending to the situation.
“The attack was as a result of they believing that we delayed in arriving at the scene. But we were able to apprehend five of the attackers and are currently in police custody. We will pursue this matter to the latter and ensure the perpetrators are punished to deter others. The attack on fire officers must stop”, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Fire Commander, DO3 Simon Ben Boadu disclosed.
Leadership of the market have condemned the attack.
“The attack on the officers is unfortunate and whoever is found culpable should be dealt with in accordance with the law”, Market Queen, Nana Kyeiwaa said.
The unfortunate incident has left victims traumatized with many thinking of how to return to business after losing almost everything.
“All our machines are burnt so we don’t know how to start again. It’s frustrating”, a visibly worried victim, Alexander Adongo lamented.
An observation by the fire fighters pointed to the combustible items in some of the shops and unplanned nature of the burnt area as the reason for the quick spread of the fire.
Member of Parliament for Bantama, Francis Asenso Boakye advised traders to desist from illegal electricity connection after he was briefed about the preliminary cause of the incident by the market leadership.
“This illegal electricity connection which has proven to be one of the main reasons why we experience major market fires in this country must be stopped.
“I will however speak with the Kumasi mayor to see how best we can help the affected traders bounce back”, Asenso Boakye assured.
Though an investigation to establish the exact cause of the fire is underway, some eyewitnesses have pointed to an electrical fault.
