Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has asked for the immediate cessation of all commercial activities and total evacuation of traders operating at the Food Market and surrounding areas of the Albert Bosomtwi-Sam Fishing Harbour in Sekondi.
The directive follows a fire outbreak at a Premix Fuel dump stationed at the fishing harbour on Sunday, which destroyed several properties.
According to the Fire Safety Officer at the Albert Bosomtwi-Sam Fishing Harbour, DCFO Jimmy Nab Daisie, heavy rains at about 3:30 p.m. caused vegetation and portions of a slope around the premix fuel dump to collapse.
The runoff and mudslide subsequently pushed down a nearby electricity pole, which fell between premix fuel tanks and sparked a fire.
This quickly spread to other fuel tanks in the vicinity, triggering a major inferno. Several structures, makeshift stalls, carts, and two vehicles parked nearby were reduced to ashes.
Five fire tenders from the Ghana National Fire Service, Port of Takoradi and the Ghana Air Force, with support from fisherfolk in the area, battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control.
On Monday morning, the Western Regional Minister, accompanied by the Omanhene of Essikado, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, and officials of the Port of Takoradi, toured the scene to assess the extent of damage.
Beyond the fire incident itself, the team observed that other portions of vegetation and weakened slopes overlooking sections of the fishing harbour posed a significant risk of further collapse.
The regional minister then directed that all commercial activities at the Food Market and adjoining areas to cease immediately, and traders fully evacuated from the affected zone as a precautionary measure.
Director of the Port of Takoradi, Captain James Richard Quayson, disclosed that management had on several occasions attempted, unsuccessfully, to halt and relocate premix fuel activities from active operational areas of the fishing harbour.
