Kempis Robert Ofosuware showing exhibit used by the supposed arsonists.
A SUPPOSED attempt by unknown arsonists to set the Tema Central Market ablaze on Tuesday night was said to have been foiled by a night surveillance team set up by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) to secure the market against arson.
The alleged arsonists were said to have packed combustible materials in a bag and set it ablaze with candles under a wooden table with the intention to burn the market.
There was black-out in the market and some parts of the metropolis at the time the fire was seen and was immediately put out.
The incident was said to have occurred at about 11:30pm near the Accra-Madina lorry station when traders at the market had closed.
Interestingly, no arrest has so far been made though police promised to investigate the matter.
The TMA night surveillance team is made up of men from the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Police Service, TMA taskforce and some members of the Works and Housing Committee of the assembly.
The table under which the fire was set up
Markets and other companies and private homes have experienced fire outbreaks in recent times with government suspecting arson. Some six people were arrested in connection with some of the market fires.
Market fires have undoubtedly rendered market women hopeless and penniless; a situation which has become an albatross around the neck of government who has, therefore, set aside a GH¢2million fund to help the women.
Kempis Robert Ofosuware, the Tema Mayor, speaking to the media after a tour of the area with some security personnel in the metropolis, was optimistic that the security measures put in place to protect the Tema market from falling victim to the fires ravaging markets would yield the expected results.
He explained that “one of the security personnel at the market initially spotted the fire and raised the alarm when the team, including the fire service, rushed to the scene to quell it and had it not been black-out, they would have arrested such persons.”
According to him, the assembly would beef up security at the market to ensure such an attempt never occurred, hence “traders at the market should comply with the security personnel and abide by the guidelines put in place by the night surveillance team to protect the market.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Maxwell Atingane, Tema Regional Police commander, warned against any miscreant who might attempt to break the law to set the market ablaze or undertake any criminal activity, since the police would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute such a person.
He assured the region of constant police protection against criminals to ensure that Tema continued to be one of the safest areas in the country, noting that his outfit had launched investigation into the matter to ascertain the truth of it.
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