A fire outbreak has destroyed many stores and wares at the Akyem Oda Central Market in the Eastern Region.
The inferno, which is believed to have started late night on Monday, September 13, 2021, has affected several goods and shops which cannot be readily quantified.
Reports from Angel TV’s reporter, Kobby Praise, indicates that the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) responded quickly to the distress call but couldn’t get access into the market.
“The source of the fire is unknown but the intensity of the fire is very high now because this section of the market is occupied by combustible materials like clothes, shoes, sprays. The first two fire tenders that came couldn’t get access into the market”, Kobby Praise reported.
He added that the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has put off light within the enclave to avoid further damage, while soldiers from Akyiase have intervened to prevent bystanders from stealing the goods of traders.
Speaking with Kofi Adoma Nwanwani on the Anopa Bofo morning show, the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, commiserated with traders who have lost their goods in the inferno.
He was however dissatisfied that some persons have blocked the access routes into the market thus impeding the five fire tenders from quelling the fire.
He complained that if authorities had tried to remove persons encroaching the access routes, human rights activists and the public would lash out at them for being insensitive to their plight but this has now resulted in a disaster.
Mr. Acquah further noted that though the market can be rebuilt, “I’m more concerned about the traders who have lost their goods to the fire outbreak. We need to take our time and find out the cause of the fire. I am still trying to resolve issues related to a fire outbreak which occurred in April destroying school properties”.
