A resident of the Kasoa New Market has attributed the devastating fire that swept through parts of the market in the Awutu Senya East Municipality of the Central Region to a faulty electricity meter.
The inferno, which broke out recently, destroyed more than 360 mini-stores, reducing years of investment to ashes and causing losses estimated at several millions of Ghana cedis. Speaking to Adom News, the resident, who assisted officers of the Ghana National Fire Service during efforts to contain the blaze, said the fire originated from an electrical meter malfunction.
According to him, the fire spread rapidly due to the closely packed nature of the stores, making it difficult for firefighters to bring the situation under control in the early stages.
Confirming the extent of the destruction, the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Phyllis Naa Koryoo Okunor, disclosed that a total of 364 stores were affected by the fire. She described the incident as a major setback for traders, many of whom rely solely on the market for their livelihoods.
The MP also raised concerns about reports that some fire service personnel allegedly assaulted civilians and a journalist during the incident. She described the development as unfortunate and called for calm, stressing the need for professionalism and cooperation during emergency situations.
Investigations are expected to be carried out to establish the exact cause of the fire and to address the concerns raised during the response to the incident.
