Police in the Ashanti Region have arrested five persons for allegedly assaulting fire officers responding to a fire outbreak at the Racecourse Market.
The suspects accused the fire officers of responding late to the distress call and pelted them with stones when they arrived at the scene.
The incident which happened on Monday, March 11, 2024, caused injuries to one of the fire officers.
The fire which started around 1 am at the section of the Racecourse Market where Millers and traders of foodstuffs and ingredients operated affected about 180 shops.
It destroyed over twenty milling machines and a lot of food items as traders were unable to salvage their properties.
According to a Fire Commander, D.O 3 Simon Ben Boadu, the fire spread rapidly due to the attack on the firefighters.
“Our preliminary investigations revealed that the fire started from one of the corn mills, and because the shops were closed, it spread to other shops, we have counted about 180 shops.”
He said the fire crew has launched an investigation into the outbreak.
“We are going to pursue this to the latter. Whatever happens to them [suspects] will, be a deterrent to others, that the attack on firemen must stop. The attack was a result of their belief that we delay in getting to the scene, and the spread of the fire was a result of the congested nature of the market,” D.O 3 Boadu said.
In a statement dated February 19, 2024, the GNFS threatened to boycott emergency service following attacks on firefighters at Konongo, Asamankese, and Kenyase.
Emphasizing the urgency of addressing the violence against their officers the service insisted on swift investigations, and legal actions against perpetrators to ensure firefighters’ safety during emergency response.