Fire Service Investigating Takoradi Market Fire

The Ghana National Fire Service has begun investigations into the fire that occurred at the Takoradi Market Circle in the Western Region.

The incident, which happened on Saturday night, burnt down portions of the market and several items running into thousands of Ghana cedis.

 Personnel from the Fire Service were said to have had a tough time entering the market.

This year there have been dozens of fire outbreaks in markets and various warehouses across the country.

 Traders suspect electrical fault as cause of fire

Meanwhile, the traders say they suspect faulty electrical wires as the cause of the fire.

They suspect the fire might have been triggered by one of the cables on an electrical pole in the market.

 Six wooden shops and a metal container were burnt down at the market.

Three of the shops, which belonged to a mother and her two daughters, contained several bags of beans, groundnut and groundnut paste, tomato paste of different brands, cloths, linen and other sowing materials for other traders.  

Over 15 metal basins and other metallic equipment were burnt to ashes in another shop.   

It is alleged that a total of over GH¢3,000 physical cash was burnt in the process.   

It is reported that members of the Regional Security Council earlier visited the place to assess the extent of damage. Even before the Fire Service completes its investigation into the matter, some traders are suspecting electrical fault.

“This electrical pole standing just here caught fire some time back. We called the people to work on it and they did. We neither cook around nor left any source of fire before going home. I’m of a strong believe that that last fire which scared most of us that time might have repeated itself leading to this disaster,” one trader lamented.