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The Zongo Police have arrested and detained four people, suspected to have taken advantage of the huge blaze at the Kumasi Central Market to loot some shops there.
The Zongo ‘B’ Divisional Commander, Superintendent Reverend Dr. Nana Adane-Ameyaw, who confirmed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said they would be put before court to answer the charge of stealing.
They were caught carrying away large quantity of cosmetics, containers of paint and tubers of yam.
The Police Commander, however, declined to give their names, except to say that they would be arraigned as soon as they were done with their investigations.
The market caught fire on Wednesday night and ravaged merchandize running into thousands of cedis.
Firefighters backed with more than 10 fire engines battled for hours to control the huge blaze, which started at about 2100 hours.
After almost 12 hours, the fire was yet to be completely extinguished.
Over 100 stores and stalls were leveled and items lost included cosmetics, plastic products, paint, turpentine, and food stuff.
According to the Ashanti Regional Deputy Fire Officer, Divisional Officer Grade One (DO1) Paa Kwasi Adutwum, they were yet to determine the cause.
The dry conditions and strong winds was believed to have fueled its quick spread and the resultant massive destruction.
Firefighters from the Manhyia Station were the first to respond and they were soon joined by reinforcement from the other stations to tackle the raging fire.
The blaze was first detected at the ‘Adehye Line’ section of the market but within minutes swept through the ‘Bode’ area.
Many of the traders were overcome with emotions, some of them inconsolable, as they rued the loss of their investment.
One of the victims, Kwadwo Asare, expressed disappointment at what he said was the failure of the city authorities to act to stop the recurring fire at the market.
Fire outbreak there had become one too many, the visibly angry trader noted.
What they found disturbing was the fact that recommendations by investigations commissioned after every fire disaster at the market continued to remain largely unimplemented.
Meanwhile the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Peter Anarfi-Mensah, and the Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr. Kojo Bonsu, had visited the market to assess the extent of damage and all would be watching to see if this would make any change.
