Donations pour in for Koforidua fire victims

The Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional area Daasebre Profesor Oti Boateng Monday promised a personal donation of GH¢2,000 to assist those whose stores were gutted by fire at the Koforidua Central Market on Sunday.

He gave the promise when he visited the market to assess the extent of damage to the market. He was accompanied by the MP for New Juaben South Yaw Barimah, the Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Kwasi Adjei Boateng and the Regional Police Commander DCOP Asare Darko.

Dasebre also promised to meet this affected and find ways of helping them to operate in a business-like manner, stressing the need for them to insure their wares against such disasters.

Thirty seven stores were destroyed in the fire out break. Items destroyed include wax print, jewelleries, cosmetics, foot were, provisions, suiting materials and food staffs. It took a team of firemen from Koforidua and Suhum and supports the Police about two and half hours to put off the fire which started at 4:30 pm.

Sources close to the Police and the Fire Service indicated that the fire was started by a welder who was working on a container in the market. They have been able to identify the container and invited the owner to assist in their investigations. The welder has since been arraigned before the courts. The police have also made a number of arrests of people who took advantage of the situation and looted some stores in the market.

Madam Beatrice Bernice Boateng, a member of the New Juaben Municipal Assembly and former Presiding Member who led some members of the Assembly, executives and polling station chairmen of the New Patriotic Party to visit the market also promised GH¢500 to assist those affected in the fire outbreak. She appealed to individuals and organisations to come to the aid of the victims. She commended the Fire Service for successfully putting out the fire.

Meanwhile the MCE Nana Adjei Boateang has directed the New Juabeng NADMO coordinator peter kwasi Opong to take inventory of all the stores affected in the market and make a report to the municipal assembly fro the necessary action to be taken.

By Peter Abban