The Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Daniella Mawusi Ntow-Sapong, is calling for the immediate relocation of squatters from key industrial zones in the Tema enclave to avert future disasters.
Her appeal follows a devastating fire outbreak on Wednesday night behind the Ferro Fabric Metal Company in the Tema Heavy Industrial Area, which destroyed more than 500 makeshift structures and displaced hundreds of residents.
Scenes of despair and destruction greeted officials during a Thursday assessment visit to the fire-ravaged enclave behind the Ferro Fabric Metal Company, where hundreds of squatters lost everything in the late-night blaze.
Eyewitnesses say the inferno, which took firefighters over ten hours to contain, swept through densely packed wooden structures, leaving a trail of ash and rubble.
The Chief Fire Officer, Daniella Mawusi Ntow-Sapong, who led a high-level team to the scene, expressed deep concern over the increasing risk posed by squatters in industrial zones.
She stressed that the presence of unauthorized settlements not only hampers emergency response but also exacerbates risks of fire and flooding.
Hundreds of families, now homeless, are struggling to come to terms with their losses and are appealing for urgent support. Among them are schoolchildren and nursing mothers in desperate need of shelter, food, and basic supplies.
Deputy NADMO Director for Tema Metro, Janet Mensah Abrompa,h visited the scene and called on the private sector, humanitarian organizations, and individuals to support the victims in this critical time.
Meanwhile, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly says it is working with stakeholders to mobilize relief items and provide temporary support for the displaced victims.
REPORT: AHIABOR AUGUSTINE
