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‘Abuja’ reduced to ground Zero

'Abuja' on fireA fierce fire gutted the Abuja slum near the Cocoa Marketing Board (COCOBOD) lorry station in Accra on Tuesday evening.

Many people were rendered homeless as the wooden structures, which served as the residential and business centres of the victims, were completely destroyed by the fire which started at about 8 pm.

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The slum accommodated mostly head porters and petty traders who ply their trade in the Central Business District of Accra.

Goods and property worth several thousands of Ghana cedis were destroyed as the densely populated settlement, was reduced to a vast fire field.

A number of firemen, who responded to the disaster with their fire tenders, had a tough time fighting the huge blaze as access was impeded by the haphazard siting of both permanent and temporary structures which served as dwelling places and business centres.

Dwellers who were able to salvage some of their belongings were seen carrying them away to safe locations as streams of curious neighbours also found their way to the scene to catch a glimpse of the latest tragedy.

Virtually all major markets within the metropolis – Mallam, Kantamanto, Makola, Agbogbloshie have been destroyed by fire this year, with the exception of the Kaneshie Market.

Although the cause of the fire is yet to be established, some residents suspect that it might have been caused by a gas leakage.

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At the time of the visit to the place, the atmosphere at the area was that of chaos as the victims wondered where they would next lay their heads and how to recoup all the savings lost.

A victim of the fire disaster, Ms Amanda Yeboah, said she was having her bath when the fire started.

She said the fire had rendered her homeless and jobless since all her work equipment were burnt into ashes.

A charcoal seller, Ayeshetu Mohammed, said all her 250 bags of charcoal, amounting to about GH¢6,000 which she just purchased last Sunday, got completely burnt.

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A divisional officer and Deputy National Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Prince Billy Anaglate, said the congested nature of the place made it difficult for personnel of the GNFS to gain access easily.

By Sarah  Mensah & Vincent Musah/Daily Graphic/Ghana

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