Indeed, there is 'Fire everywhere', as stated on the front page of the Daily Graphic of Monday, June 17. Fires continue to cause considerable damage to life and property as the country recorded 2,201 fire outbreaks in the first quarter of this year with markets being the most affected.
Days after the fires, the affected markets became mourning grounds, as traders and shop owners mourned their losses.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) put the estimated cost of damage to property in the first quarter at GH¢16 million.
From the total fire outbreaks recorded in the first quarter, it means that on the average, 18 fires occurred daily while 550 were reported monthly.
It appears that if the trend of fire outbreaks continues this year, the number will exceed the number recorded last year.
In 2012, fire outbreaks recorded nationwide were 4,577 resulting in 295 deaths. The cost of damage was put at GH¢10,321,963.
In terms of regional distribution, the Brong Ahafo Region recorded the highest number of fire outbreaks with 378, followed by the Greater Accra Region, 330, Ashanti, 314 while the Volta Region recorded the least of 46 fires.
Major fire outbreaks and the plight of the victims
Some of the major fire outbreaks recorded this year occurred at the Kantamanto Market in Accra, where virtually the whole place was razed down by the inferno.
Other markets were the Makola Number Two and Agbogbloshie markets and the Makola Shopping Mall all in Accra, Kumasi Magazine and the Kumasi Central Market.
The fire outbreaks at the markets left traders in agony because aside their losses, their livelihood and that of their dependants were destroyed.
Meanwhile, they have been instructed to stay away from the sites from where they hitherto earned a living until further directed.
Apart from the Kantamanto Market where traders have resumed work, the Makola Shopping Mall which was gutted by fire on May 24, 2013, remains barred to entry by the traders and is under security guard.
The situation is not different at the Makola Number Two Market as traders have been asked to stay off for investigations to complete. Till the investigations are over, these traders would have to find other alternatives for survival.
Possible causes of the fire outbreaks
The question on the lips of many people is, what could be the causes of these outbreaks?
The Ghana National Fire Services is said to have conducted extensive work on the fires in the markets.
Some of the identified possible causes are faulty electrical connections and over-aged wiring of buildings.
The use of fire by traders in the markets who do not put them off properly.
Others are illegal connections in the markets which also include overloading of meters.
Improper demarcations in the country, particularly at the markets, hinder the entry of fire personnel to fight the fires immediately they break out.
Government initiatives
The spate of fire outbreaks has become a national concern, making President john Mahama to invite into the country, fire experts from the United States of America to help unravel the mystery behind the fires.
The government has since directed that all markets should be closed by 6:00pm.
For its part, the GNFS has deployed personnel in the various markets to monitor and ensure that the markets are safe during and after market hours.
The government has also promised a loan for the various victims of the outbreaks to ensure that they get back to business.
The President has announced a reward of GH¢25,000 for any person who will provide information that will lead to the arrest perpetrators of the arson.
The government has also directed the ECG to disconnect all illegal connections in the markets and prosecute all perpetrators.
As part of the measures by the GNFS and its stakeholders, fire posts are to be erected at the various markets.
Recommendations and conclusions
Traders at the various markets should stop cooking in the markets or ensure that all fires are properly put off after usage.
Citizens should be law-abiding and stop illegal connections to avoid overloading of meters and electrical poles.
The ECG should give prior notice of load shedding to alert consumers.
Traders at the markets should be educated on the possible causes of the fires to help them guard against fire outbreaks.
The government should re-construct all the markets.
In an article by Dr Peter Twumasi published in The Mirror of June 15, 2013, he suggested that the government should adopt scientific and technological approaches to overcome the fire challenges.
He also urged the government to initiate programmes that would make use of local experts as they were good as others abroad.
By Salomey Appiah
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