The Greater Accra Regional Fire Commander, ACFO II Rashid Kwame Nisawu, has warned that fire outbreaks in markets will continue unless urgent measures are taken to prevent vendors from living, cooking, and storing flammable materials in these spaces.
Speaking at the JoyNews National Dialogue on fire cycles in Ghana on Thursday, April 3, he stated that the habit of turning markets into residential areas is a key factor contributing to frequent fire disasters.
According to ACFO II Nisawu, markets in Ghana are not just trading hubs but also serve as homes for many traders, a practice that significantly increases fire risks.
He explained that vendors often light mosquito coils or candles at night while sleeping in the market, and when they drift off, they are unaware of their surroundings.
This negligence, he stated, is a major cause of market fires, as unattended flames can easily ignite nearby materials and spread rapidly.
“Until we dedicate markets and say this is a dedicated market, don’t allow people to come cook, sleep there, bathe there, and you turn markets into their homes, we will have challenges,” he warned.
The fire commander also pointed to the improper storage of flammable substances as another major contributor to recurring fires.
Citing the recent fire outbreak in Adum, Ashanti Region, he noted that explosions were observed at certain points as the fire spread—an indication that highly combustible materials were stored in the affected areas.
He further revealed that in some fire investigations, it was discovered that the very items being sold in the market played a role in fueling the blaze.
To address these challenges, ACFO II Nisawu proposed a more structured approach to market management.
He advocated for the establishment of dedicated markets where trading activities are strictly regulated, ensuring that vendors do not turn them into makeshift homes or storage facilities for hazardous substances.
He also called for proper market segmentation, where traders dealing in similar goods are assigned specific sections of the market.
This, he explained, would help prevent situations where highly flammable materials are mixed with other goods, increasing the risk of fire outbreaks.
“So to prevent these things, market segmentation—we should know that this lane is for cloth sellers, this one is for tomato sellers,” he added.
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