Alhaji Amadu Soroghu, Chairman of the National Fire Service Council, on Tuesday commended the service for their swift responses to the distress call to save the Madina Market from total destruction. He also commended the Assemblymen, the Presiding Member, the Police, NADMO and the youth of Madina for their tremendous support service to the firemen to fight the fire, which engulfed portions of the market last night. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview during a visit to the market Alhaji Soroghu, who is also the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Abokobi-Madina, said it took the Fire Service three minutes to respond to the call but had difficulty in entering the market. He said the Fire Service used five fire tenders and one water tanker to bring the fire under control and assured the people that the service will initiate immediate investigations into the cause of the fire. Alhaji Soroghu instructed the District Assembly to register all the names of the victims, shed numbers and estimated cost of items lost. He said the market would be closed down for a day to enable the Fire Service personnel undertake an assessment of the damage, while the District Assembly will also mobilize to clear the debris. Alhaji Soroghu said “Madina market was built with enough access roads, but “encroachment within the space has blocked all the access roads and this hindered the operation of the Fire personnel. He said “we will remove all these structures and allow the market to remain as it was built, it is in the interest of all traders to create access roads in case of emergency” adding that “we should not politicize the effort to make things right. Let us apply rules and regulations of the land and put all politics aside and we will be moving the nation forward for better development”. Mr Afotey Abgo, Greater Accra Regional Minister, who was part of the lead the team government delegation to sympathize with the traders, urged the women to give their names and any other details to the Assembly so they could benefit from MASLOC support earmarked for such situations. Alhaji Baba Ibrahim Mohammed of the La Nkwantanan Madina Municipal Assembly called for the need to decongest the market and the removal of all structures blocking access roads for easy movement. Alhaji Iman Mohammed, Ga East Municipal NADMO Coordinator, took the GNA round the burnt market. He also commended the Fire Service and youth in the neighborhood for their stunning efforts in quenching the fire About 225 people mainly traders, had their goods worth several millions of Ghana cedis destroyed by fire. According to sources, the fire, which started last night around 1830 hours destroyed items ranging from food items, used clothing, shoes and suiting materials. Though the cause of the fire was not immediately known, some have attributed it to the frequent power outage whilst others claimed it was due to illegal use of fire (gas). GNA observed some traders going through the debris, Madam Comfort Anane, a trader in bags and shoes, said she lost over GH¢ 30,000.00 whilst Madam Lizberth Ansah who sells used clothing appealed to the government to assist them start their business again.