Tema: A fire outbreak in the early hours of Thursday destroyed about eight shops at the Tema Community One Market, Mangoase Lane. The incident took place around 02:00 hours and was promptly addressed by personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, who responded swiftly to distress calls.
According to Ghana News Agency, some of the items consumed by the fire included wigs, sewing machines, clothes, and furniture. Mr. Kwaku Alebpoorin, a market caretaker and eyewitness, reported seeing smoke rising from a section of the market. He immediately informed their leader to alert the fire service, who arrived in time to manage the situation. Mr. Alebpoorin suggested that the fire might have been caused by electrical faults, as he had noticed some electrical cables sparking before the fire began, which then spread rapidly and damaged several shops.
Mr. Derrick Pabi, a tailor, arrived at the scene around 03:15 hours, where he found fire service personnel and police officers already present, having successfully doused the fire. Similarly, Madam Portia Quaye, a seamstress operating in the affected section, was informed of the fire around 04:00 hours, but upon reaching the scene, discovered that the officers had already brought the situation under control.
The affected traders have appealed to authorities for support as they assess the damage and consider recovery options. Divisional Officer II (DOII) Ebenezer Yenzu, Tema Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), conveyed to the Ghana News Agency that a total of eight shops were impacted by the fire. Three of these shops suffered extensive damage, while the remaining five were partially affected.
DOII Yenzu mentioned that the exact cause of the fire outbreak was still under investigation, with the assurance that efforts were underway to determine the source of the fire and prevent future incidents. He highlighted that personnel from the Fire Service were actively engaging with market women, providing education on fire safety measures, aiming to raise awareness and equip traders with essential knowledge on fire prevention and proper handling of flammable materials.
He urged all traders and business operators within the market to remain vigilant and adhere to safety protocols to minimise the risk of future fire outbreaks.
