● A part of European Town

Raging fire on Sunday afternoon swept through scores of makeshift structures along the rail lines closed to the train station at European Town,  Sekondi, in the Western Region.

“A  total of 64 structures,  mostly drinking bars and makeshift rooms, were burnt while about 130 others were secured by firefighters deployed from the Ghana National Fire Service, Regional Headquarters, Fijai and the Naval Base at Sekondi,”Fire Service source told The Spectator.

Various personal belongings were also burnt.

Madam Mary Tetteh, 65, who could not bear the sight of her shop consumed by collapsed and was  whisked by firemen to the nearby  Naval Base Clinic, for treatment.

“Six gas cylinders exploded during the fire and we were able to retrieve 65 bottles to safety, to prevent further explosions,” Regional  Public Relations Officer, Divisional  Officer II,  Emmanuel Bonny said.

He again said that  at  about 12.04pm on Sunday, the Sekondi Control Room received a distress call and so fire appliances were dispatched to the scene along the rail  lines  at European Town, near the train  station,  at about  12.11pm.

“We dispatched four fire tenders to fight   the fire from spreading because of the wind and  about 1.09 pm,  the fire was brought under control but the whole area at the rail line was totally burnt,” he stressed.

He explained that wooden  structures asbestos and cooking oils stored  in the rooms coupled with high wind velocity from  Sekondi  shores, triggered the intensity of the  Sunday fire.

DO II Bonney  advised the  public to stay away during such fires, noting that the explosion of gas cylinders during the incident, could have  resulted in a disaster.

“The public should stay away during fire fighting especially when gas cylinders are exploding,  because we are professionals and have studied the wind direction,  we could prevent any occurrences. With civilians engaged  in  fire -fighting,  fatalities could have been higher,” he added.

He said the command had   begun  investigations  to establish the cause of the fire break.

The rail line, near the Sekondi railway station,  had generated concern among the security architecture  in the metropolis   regarding the use of the base as  ‘hive’ for prostitution, which had attracted foreigners  mostly  Nigerian girls.

Recently, the Chief Fisherman of the Sekondi Fishing Harbour, Nana Kofi Essoun, complained that about “900 commercial sex workers are currently plying their trade at European Town, the community hosting the harbour.”

Describing the situation as  worrying, he suggested that the Western Region Security Council (REGSEC) should take urgent action  to curb  the  increase in criminal activities including armed robberies in the area.

“The fishing  harbour is now not safe. As I speak with you now, we have over 900 commercial sex workers from Nigeria who have erected sheds for their trade. They engage in various activities endangering the peace we have been enjoying at the harbor,” he stressed.

From Clement Adzei Boye, Sekondi