The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has urged the authorities of Kantamanto Market to prioritise the integration of modern fire safety features such as smoke, heat, and flame detectors in any future redevelopment of the facility.
According to the GNFS, the persistent fire outbreaks in the market are largely due to the use of combustible materials in construction and the absence of critical safety systems.
Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Saturday, April 19, the Greater Accra Regional Commander of the GNFS, ACFO II Rashid Nisawu, called for a complete overhaul of the market infrastructure using fire-resistant materials.
He pointed out that although some reconstruction had already taken place, the continued reliance on flammable materials like wawa boards and plywood leaves the market at high risk.
“They have reconstructed the market and I am on record saying that until we try and dedicate these markets and say these markets should be reconstructed to modern standards where we can get smoke detectors, heat detectors, flame detectors, using fire resistant materials to construct, get to know that this a market, we open the market at 6 O’clock we close it at six in the evening that people will not use the market as dwelling places we will continue to have challenges,” he said.
He further stressed that markets should not serve as places of residence, adding that activities should be limited to designated business hours to reduce fire hazards.
“So my advice is that they should try as much as possible and reconstruct the market to befit modern standards and let’s move away from these wooden structures that we use—wawa boards and ply woods and other things,” ACFO Nisawu added.
The GNFS continues to advocate for tighter safety regulations and enforcement to curb the rising spate of market fires across the country.
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