NDC behind market fires – NPP claims
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of being responsible for the recent fire outbreaks in markets across the country.
In a statement issued by the NPP’s General Secretary, John Boadu, alleged that the NDC is hiding behind the fires to register their displeasure over the 2020 election results.
“The NPP has noted with grave concerns and revulsion, the increasing spate of market fires being experienced across the country in recent times. The sheer rampancy and coincidence with which the markets are burning, coupled with the constant threats by some elements of the opposition to burn markets in order to drum home their concerns over the outcome of the 2020 general elections, leaves no lingering doubt that they are behind these arson attacks.”
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According to the NPP, the NDC in a leaked audio by its Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo had an agenda to cause mayhem in the aftermath of the elections.
It was, however, convinced the NDC was behind the arsons.
The party urged the Ghana Police Service to quickly investigate the cause of the fires and ensure perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted.
“While commending the Police for arresting one of the suspected arsonists behind the Kantamanto fire outbreak by name, Daniel Dah Kormlah, who had been identified as an active member of the opposition NDC, we also implore the police to immediately arrest Daniel Tee together with all his accomplices and make them face the full rigours of the law.”
2020 Market fires
The Kaneshie inferno swept through portions of the multipurpose building and destroyed nine fabric shops and a warehouse. Six of the shops were totally burnt with nothing to be salvaged by the victims.
Barely 24 hours before the Kaneshie incident, a fire ripped through a market at Asankragwa in the Western region.
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According to reports, the fire tender at the closest fire station had developed a fault for the past six months hence the young men in the area mobilised to douse the fire which lasted several hours.
By the time the fire was put out completely, four shops had been gutted with thousands of items destroyed.
On Tuesday, December 15, fire ravaged the Kantamanto market also in Accra.
Over 2, 592 people were affected, and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia led a government delegation to meet with the leadership of the market and other stakeholders to offer some support.
But a day before, on Monday 14, traders at the Koforidua were left counting their losses as their wares were consumed by fire at that part of the country.
The blaze was reportedly caused by an electrical fault on the main power supply pole of the ECG and spread to the nearby shops.
The most devastating of the series of fire outbreaks was the one that tore through thousands of shops at Odawna, a densely crowded market area on November 18.
It was the second fire incident at the same market within 10 months.