Five Arrested for Attacking Fire Service Officers at Racecourse Market

In the Ashanti Region, five individuals have been arrested following an alleged assault on fire officers who were responding to a fire outbreak at the Racecourse Market on Monday, March 11, 2024. The incident resulted in one of the fire officers sustaining injuries.

According to reports, the suspects accused the fire service personnel of a delayed response, which led them to retaliate by pelting stones. The fire, which started around 1 am on Monday, engulfed a section of the Racecourse Market where millers and traders of foodstuffs and ingredients operated.

Approximately 180 container shops were affected, causing significant damage. Many traders were unable to salvage their belongings, and over twenty milling machines were destroyed in the blaze. Fire Commander for the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Fire Station, D.O 3 Simon Ben Boadu, attributed the fire’s rapid spread to the attack on the fire crew.

“Our preliminary investigations revealed that the fire started from one of the corn mills, and because the shops are close, it spread to other shops, we have counted about 180 shops. Investigations are still ongoing. We are going to pursue this to the latter. Whatever happens to them [arrested suspects] will be a deterrent to others, that the attack on firemen must stop. The attack was a result they believe that we delayed in getting to the scene, and the spread of the fire was a result of the congested nature of the market.”

The arrests serve as a reminder of the dangers faced by emergency responders and the importance of ensuring their safety as they carry out their duties.