Nana Agyeman Prempeh, Director General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has attributed the fire outbreak at the Kasoa Market in the Central Region last Sunday – which led to huge loses – to lack of access to the place.
He said congestion in the market prevented personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) from getting to the scene early to fight the fire.
He said this when he visited the scene on Monday, August 1, and interacted with the chiefs and the people.
Nana Agyeman Prempeh was accompanied by Michael Mensah, the Municipal Chief Executive; Mavis Hawa Koomson, Member of Parliament for the area and Minister for Development and Special Initiatives and staff of NADMO.
“Even though the cause of fire is not yet known, access to the market is not right,” Nana Prempeh said.
“Government has built a market for the traders where if something like this happens the Fire Service personnel would be able to get to the scene with ease, but the traders refused to move in.
“The Fire Service personnel suffered before they were able to get access to the market.
“The Service had enforcement from Dansoman and other areas… but the way to get through to the market was an issue,” he stressed.
He charged the municipal NADMO office to be proactive in its duties and intensify education on fire preventive measures to the public.
The fire, which started at 0130 hours on Sunday, lasted for eight hours.
About 350 stores and other properties were destroyed.
GNA