Firefighters responding to a blaze at the Odupongkpehe Zongo section of the Kasoa Old Market were attacked by a group of irate youth, forcing police to intervene before fire officers could tackle the inferno.
Personnel dispatched from the Weija Fire Station say they were pelted with stones upon arrival, while the windscreen of their fire engine was smashed. The group also blocked access to the scene, hampering efforts to contain the flames.
According to the Weija Fire Station Administrator, DO Addo Danso, the hostility stemmed from accusations that the crew had arrived late.
He, however, rejected that claim, stating that the team reached the scene at 20:20 GMT after receiving the distress call at 17:54 GMT.
Police reinforcement was eventually required to disperse the crowd and clear a path for firefighters to begin operations.
By the time access was secured, two container shops had been completely destroyed by the blaze.
A formal complaint has since been lodged at the CBD Police Station in Kasoa, with investigations under way and possible arrests expected.
The MCE for Awutu Senya East, Seth Sabah Serwonoo-Banini, told the media that anybody arrested in connection with the violence will face the law.
Source: Citinews
