By Marie Aziz Tunde
More than 100 shops and stalls at the Takoradi Temporary Market were this morning, April 4, 2022 gutted by fire.
The Fire which started in the wee hours razed structures and destroyed several wares running into thousands of Ghana cedis.
The Takoradi Temporary Market was created by the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, STMA to relocate traders from the Takoradi Central Market to pave the way for its redevelopment.
Hundreds of traders dealing in various wares were in February 2021 sent to the new market where brisk business activities were taking place.
In the early hours of Monday, April, 4, 2022, according to eyewitnesses, smoke was seen billowing from some shops followed by wildfire which quickly spread to shops, stalls and warehouses within the market.
The Ghana National Fire Service was quickly called but poor access delayed their entry to the spot where the fire was blazing.
They eventually managed to gain entry and brought the fire under control, unfortunately severe damage had been caused to the structures while several items were burnt. Some eye witnesses and traders affected by the fire recounted how the incident occurred.
The NADMO Coordinator for the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, Mr James Obeng said the Fire Service and the security services quickly moved to save the situation.
NADMO and other allied services are working to assess the extent of damage as well as the cause of fire.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah who is also the MP for Takoradi was at the scene to assess the damage caused.
He said experts will be quickly brought in to find ways of fixing the damage within the shortest possible time.