By:Isaac Amoah

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Manhyia South Constituency, who is also the Minister of Energy, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh aka Napo, has sympathised with the victims of the Kejetia Frenchline market fire disaster.

Speaking with the victims over the weekend, Napo said, “I understand and feel your pains. I’m here with my party officials and the Manhyia South National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) coordinator to sympathise with all traders who were affected by last Sunday’s fire incident. I pray that such disaster doesn’t happen to you again.”

He, therefore, advised the traders to cooperate with and support the city authorities to ensure access to roads in the area in order to enable access in case of any disaster.

“I’ve seen that all access roads or ways have been blocked and some of your leaders have openly lamented about how some of you traders have blocked the access ways, making it very difficult for fire service officials to access the place.

Please, I’m pleading with you to cooperate with NADMO and KMA officials to ensure that the right thing is done …” he added.

The Manhyia South MP donated 100 bags of cement and 20 package of roofing sheets to support the victims.

He explained that the items would be released to them through the Manhyia South Sub-Metro NADMO coordinator, Alhaji Abuba.

Some scenes from the visit of Napo to victims  of  Franceline market  disaster

Concerning an appeal made by the traders to him as Energy Minister to ask the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to connect the main switch in the area which has been abandoned for years and also reconnect light to the ongoing reconstructed structures,

Napo said he would get in touch with ECG and NADMO officials to come and study the area to ascertain how the issues could be addressed.

He also cautioned the traders against illegal connection of power and all acts that have the potential to cause fire disaster.

Dr Napo speaking to the affected traders

Earlier, Alhaji Ali Fuseni, among other leaders of the Frenchline market, called on the Minister and KMA to intervene to ensure access roads to the area.

Alhaji Fuseni said when they started business in the area about 30 years ago, the place was easily accessible but some people had blocked the place with their containers and wares.

He lamented that when fire service officials came to put out the fire, the place was not readily accessible, thereby delaying the quenching of the fire.

Already, the traders are busily reconstructing their structures to enable them to cash in ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities.

The affected traders are still appealing for support from government and benevolent organisations since they have lost all their investments and wares through the fire disaster.

Besides, they expressed appreciation to their MP (Napo) for his visit and donation.