The decision comes after authorities assessed the aftermath of the incident and identified additional safety threats posed by unstable slopes and weakened vegetation overlooking sections of the harbour.

According to the Fire Safety Officer at the Albert Bosomtwi-Sam Fishing Harbour, Jimmy Nab Daisie, the fire was triggered by heavy rainfall that struck the area at about 3:30 p.m.

He explained that the rains caused vegetation and portions of a nearby slope to collapse, sending mud and debris downhill.

“The runoff caused an electricity pole to fall between premix fuel tanks, creating sparks that ignited the fuel and rapidly spread to adjoining tanks,” he said.

The resulting inferno engulfed several structures, makeshift stalls, handcarts and two vehicles parked close to the fuel storage area before firefighters brought the situation under control.

Five fire tenders from the Ghana National Fire Service, the Port of Takoradi and the Ghana Air Force, supported by fisherfolk and volunteers, battled the blaze for several hours to prevent it from spreading to other parts of the fishing harbour.

On Monday, Minister Joseph Nelson, accompanied by the Omanhene of Essikado, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, and officials of the Port of Takoradi, inspected the affected area to assess the extent of the damage and the potential risks that remain.

Following the inspection, the Minister ordered an immediate evacuation of the Food Market and adjoining trading areas.

“Our foremost responsibility is to protect lives. The conditions we have observed present a significant danger, and we cannot allow commercial activities to continue while these risks persist,” the Minister said.

He stressed that the directive is a preventive measure intended to avert another disaster while technical assessments and remedial works are undertaken.

Meanwhile, the Director of the Port of Takoradi, James Richard Quayson, disclosed that port authorities had repeatedly attempted to relocate premix fuel operations away from active operational areas of the fishing harbour.

“We have made several efforts over the years to stop and relocate these activities, but those attempts have not been successful. This incident reinforces the urgent need to review the current arrangement in the interest of public safety,” he noted.

As of Monday afternoon, public announcements were being made across the fishing harbour to notify traders and other occupants of the directive to suspend operations and vacate the area.

Authorities are expected to conduct further structural and environmental assessments before any decision is taken on the resumption of commercial activities.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Western Regional launch of the policy in Takoradi, Mr. Nelson stressed that government efforts alone would not be sufficient to achieve the policy’s objectives.

According to him, the active involvement of healthcare professionals, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), traditional authorities, development partners, civil society organisations, and community leaders will be critical to the policy’s success.

“The government cannot achieve these objectives alone. We need the support and commitment of all stakeholders to ensure that quality primary healthcare services become accessible to every Ghanaian, regardless of where they live,” he stated.

Mr. Nelson noted that ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure at both the district and community levels would significantly improve access to healthcare services and enhance health outcomes across the region.

He described the Free Primary Healthcare Policy as a transformative intervention aimed at reducing barriers to healthcare access and improving the well-being of citizens.

The Minister further assured the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, and other stakeholders of the unwavering support of the Western Regional Coordinating Council in rolling out the policy successfully across the region.

“The Western Regional Coordinating Council remains committed to supporting this initiative. We will continue to work closely with all partners to ensure that the policy achieves its intended impact in our communities,” he added.

At the launch, the District Director of Health Services for Ellembelle, Dr. Augustine Kwesi Amoako, provided stakeholders with an overview of the policy framework and its implementation strategy.

Dr. Amoako explained that the initiative is designed to strengthen primary healthcare delivery by improving access to essential health services, particularly for vulnerable populations and residents in underserved communities.

“This policy seeks to strengthen our healthcare delivery system and ensure that every Ghanaian has access to essential primary healthcare services without financial hardship,” he said.

He noted that the successful implementation of the policy would contribute significantly to the country’s efforts towards achieving universal health coverage and improving healthcare outcomes nationwide.

The Free Primary Healthcare Policy forms part of the government’s broader strategy to expand healthcare access, strengthen preventive healthcare services, and improve the overall quality of care available to Ghanaians.

The Minister made the appeal during this year’s Eid al-Adha prayers at the Takoradi Central Mosque, where he urged both Muslims and non-Muslims to come together in a collective effort to prevent further flooding disasters.

According to him, recent heavy rains have already caused significant destruction in parts of the metropolis, warning that the situation could worsen if immediate action is not taken to improve sanitation in communities.

“Today we celebrate Eid, but tomorrow we must all pick up the spades and clear our gutters,” Mr. Nelson stated.

“The rains are increasing and if we fail to act together, we risk exposing our communities to more devastating floods.”

He stressed that sanitation should not be viewed as the responsibility of government alone, but rather a shared civic duty that requires the active participation of residents, religious bodies, and local leaders.

The Minister further appealed to community members to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains, describing the practice as a major contributor to perennial flooding in the metropolis.

Mr. Nelson commended the Muslim community for their contribution to peace and development in the region and encouraged them to use the Eid celebration as an opportunity to promote unity, discipline, and communal responsibility.

He assured residents that the government remains committed to improving drainage infrastructure in flood-prone areas but emphasised that public cooperation remains critical in addressing the sanitation challenge.

The policy, introduced by President John Mahama, allows a larger portion of Ghana’s cocoa beans to be retained locally for processing. The move has been widely welcomed by cocoa processing companies, who believe it will boost value addition and create jobs within the country.

Speaking during a working visit by the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, the Deputy Managing Director of WAMCO, Dr. Boakye Danquah, called on government and private investors to support the rehabilitation of the company’s second processing plant, known as WAMCO Two.

WAMCO, established in 1949, is the first cocoa processing company in Ghana. The Government of Ghana, through the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), holds a 40 percent stake in the company.

The company operates two processing facilities. WAMCO One and WAMCO Two with a combined installed capacity of about 60,000 metric tons of cocoa annually. However, operations have significantly declined in recent years.

WAMCO Two, which accounts for half of the company’s total capacity with 30,000 metric tons, has been rendered non-operational due to technical challenges and the shortage of raw cocoa beans.

Currently, only WAMCO One remains operational, but even that facility is running at just 30 percent of its 30,000 metric ton capacity because of an inadequate supply of cocoa beans.

Managing Director of WAMCO, Frank Bednar, welcomed the government’s 50 percent cocoa retention policy, describing it as a major step toward strengthening Ghana’s cocoa processing industry.

He noted that increasing local value addition to cocoa remains the most effective way for the country to boost export revenue while creating employment opportunities.

Dr. Boakye Danquah further appealed for an investment of between five and seven million dollars to fully rehabilitate WAMCO Two.

According to him, revamping the facility would significantly enhance production capacity and contribute to the economic revival of the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.

 MlHe added that the project could also secure more than 200 direct jobs once the plant becomes fully operational.

In response, Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson assured the company of government’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at restoring WAMCO’s full operational capacity.

He indicated that government recognises the strategic importance of cocoa processing to the national economy and will work with relevant stakeholders to ensure the sector remains competitive and sustainable.

With a population of over 2 million, accounting for nearly 7% of Ghana’s total, the region has re-launched the Western Regional Investment and Business Centre, an initiative aimed at attracting investors, fostering innovation, and creating jobs through strategic collaboration and resource coordination.

At the official launch, Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson emphasized the urgent need to shift from rhetoric to action.

“We have lamented for far too long,” he stated. “Now is the time to take the bull by the horns, take control of our destiny, and ensure this region finally receives the attention and benefits its people rightfully deserve.”

Minister Nelson noted that the centre’s core mission is to unite key stakeholders, streamline resource utilization, and create a business-friendly environment that directly improves local livelihoods.

“The journey has just begun,” he added. “But I am confident that we will soon look back and see the significant progress we’ve made.”

Inclusive Leadership for Strategic Growth

To oversee the centre’s operations and ensure its long-term success, a 15-member committee has been inaugurated. The committee brings together representatives from strategic sectors, including agriculture, tourism, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), the Free Zones Authority, and traditional authorities.

Representing the traditional leadership, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, highlighted the longstanding disconnect between the Region’s resource wealth and the well-being of its people.

“We must find a way to participate in the utilization of the resources God has naturally endowed us with,” he said. “This centre is the vehicle through which we will uplift our people and ensure they are at the heart of every investment.”

Nana Nketsia underscored the importance of local involvement in all investment activities, insisting that the community must be viewed as a partner—not a bystander.

“Let me be clear: no investor comes here for charity. Every investor comes for profit, and we must be part of that profit-making,” he declared. “This local partnership provides a fundamental sense of security for any investor, signaling that the community supports their venture.”

A New Era of Local Empowerment

The re-launch of the Western Regional Investment and Business Centre marks a strategic turning point in the region’s development narrative. By fostering public-private partnerships and prioritizing local empowerment, the initiative aims to unlock the region’s full economic potential.

With a coordinated push from government, traditional leaders, and the private sector, the Western Region is poised to become not just a resource-rich area but a model of inclusive growth and sustainable development.

The Elubo border is a crucial crossing point and trade hub between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, located in the Jomoro District of Ghana’s Western Region. It plays an important role in trade along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor. However, this key border has been struggling with issues like a lack of staff, inadequate security, and smuggling through unofficial routes. Efforts are underway to improve the situation by creating a One-Stop Border Post.

One serious concern, noted by Joshua Krakue, the Deputy Commissioner of Immigration at Elubo, is the unsafe practice of allowing trucks with explosives to park in Elubo town while waiting for their documents to be processed. He described this situation as very alarming.

“Whenever these trucks arrive with explosives, which mostly come through our ports, we need to thoroughly check their paperwork. Handling explosives is complex and takes longer than it does for normal cargo. Meanwhile, these trucks are parked in town, right next to other vehicles waiting to cross the border, posing a significant danger,” he said.

Krakue also mentioned that erosion is threatening the bridge near the border, making it unsafe. Visitors entering the Ghana side of the border encounter large potholes and heavy traffic caused by long trucks.

He pointed out that all border agencies are currently using temporary container offices because there have been no permanent buildings established since the border opened.

Reflecting on a tragic explosion that occurred in Appiate four years ago, Minister Joseph Nelson stressed that this situation needs to be addressed immediately to prevent any further incidents that could endanger lives and property.