Fire razes Tema Station market

... items worth millions of cedis burnt
Accra, Jan. 25, GNA - A fierce fire, which started around 0350 on Tuesday, at the Tema Station Market in Accra has destroyed goods worth millions of cedis. The cause of the fire, which is yet to be ascertained, has burnt most of the wooden stalls where traders sold their wares. It took the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) more than four hours to bring the fierce fire under control.

Items destroyed in the fire include second-hand clothes, shoes, foodstuff, electrical and electronic goods and a hairdressing salon. Speaking to the GNA Mr Samuel Yankey, Greater Accra Regional Fire Officer, said the Fire Service received a telephone on the incident around 0400 hours.

He said his outfit was able to mobilise four fire engines and moved to the Tema Station where the fire was blazing.

Mr Yankey said the GNFA would conduct investigations into the cause of the fire.

He advised traders, especially those who cook at the markets, to be careful with naked fire.

The Regional Chief Fire Officer called on the City Authorities to take bold action against the haphazard development of markets in the country.

Ms Doris Ameko, a victim, told the GNA, that she lost her salon filled electrical appliances worth about 18 million cedis to the fire. Ms Ameko said she lost money being the daily income she kept in the burnt down salon.


The atmosphere at the Tema Station has turned into that of mourning as traders, who came to the scene wailed and shed tears as most of them said they had lost all their working capital.


The tearful traders who lost their wares were wondering why the disaster occurred.


Uncontrollable tears were running down their faces while personnel of the GNFS were making frantic efforts to quench the smouldering fire.


Some of them remained speechless while others were shouting: "Ewurade, Ewurade, aden na wa ye yen saa?" literally meaning - My God, My God, Why have you done this to us and "Ma wu o! Ma wie o! - "I am dead, I am finished."

Akua, a Cosmetics Dealer, who could not believe that all her wares were gone told the GNA: "I would not cry because weeping would not bring my things back" but before she could finish the sentence, she broke down in tears.


Afia, who deals in baby clothes, was weeping and shouting: "Ogyefo wo hen?" meaning "Who would see me through this?" She had to shepherded away by friends and sympathizers.


Joyce Owusu, a student who had come to the market with her mother to collect her school fees, could not control her tears.


Meanwhile personnel of the Police Service are at the scene to prevent thieves from taking advantage of the situation.