Violent scenes erupted at the Kasoa Old Market in the Awutu Senya East Municipality on Friday, February 27, as an aggrieved mob turned their frustrations on emergency responders during a devastating fire outbreak.

While two container shops were being razed to the ground, a team from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) was met with a hail of stones, resulting in significant damage to a fire tender and the disruption of life-saving operations.

The incident has once again brought the dire state of firefighting equipment in the municipality into sharp focus, with local stations reportedly unable to respond due to broken-down machinery.

While no casualties were reported, the total loss of goods in the two shops has left traders in despair.

The fire, the cause of which remains under investigation, started in the heart of the market, quickly engulfing two metal container shops. As the flames intensified, residents were horrified to learn that neither the Kasoa nor the Budumburam fire stations could deploy their tenders.

DO Addo Danso, the Weija Fire Station Administrator, confirmed the systemic failure that led to the delayed arrival of help. He explained that a crew had to be dispatched all the way from Weija to fill the vacuum left by the non-operational local units.

“All the fire tenders stationed at both Kasoa and Budumburam were not operational at the time of the incident,” DO Addo Danso revealed, explaining the logistical nightmare that triggered the community's anger.

Violence against the 'First Responders'

Upon their arrival, the Weija crew were not greeted as saviours but as targets. Local youth, incensed by what they perceived as a lethargic response, allegedly attacked the firefighters. Stones were pelted at the moving vehicle, successfully shattering the windscreen and forcing the officers to navigate both the inferno and a hostile crowd.

Despite the assault, the team managed to deploy their hoses and eventually brought the blaze under control, preventing a wider catastrophe in the densely packed market.

Condemnation and police hunt

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Awutu Senya East, Seth Serwono Banini, visited the scene to assess the damage and expressed absolute disgust at the treatment of the officers. He has formally tasked the police to track down the individuals behind the assault.

“I urge residents, especially the youth, to desist from the act of attacking security personnel on duty,” the MCE stated, reinforcing that such actions only endanger the lives of the entire community during emergencies.

DO Addo Danso further confirmed that the GNFS is not taking the matter lightly and will seek criminal prosecution for the damage caused to state property.

“We are going to make an official complaint to the police so that they can arrest some of the culprits,” he added.