A huge fire at Racecourse Market in Bantama, Kumasi, became even more chaotic when five persons were taken into custody for attacking Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) firefighters who were putting out the fire.
Millions of cedis were lost as a result of the fire, which broke out in the early hours of Monday, March 11. It destroyed dozens of metal and timber buildings, including kiosks filled with food and other priceless objects.
A furious crowd responded in an unexpected and violent manner to the fire crew’s efforts to suppress the blaze. Stones and other missiles were hurled at the firefighters by the enraged mob.
DO3 According to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Fire Command’s Simon Ben Badu, his personnel quickly moved to stop the attackers and captured at least five of the attackers.
“Our preliminary investigations revealed that the fire started from one of the corn mills and because the shops are closed, it spread to other shops. We have counted about 180 shops. Investigations are still ongoing. We are going to pursue this to the latter.”
“Whatever happens to them [arrested suspects] will, be a deterrent to others, that the attack on firemen must stop. The attack was a result they believe that we delayed in getting to the scene, and the spread of the fire was a result of the congested nature of the market,” Badu said.
