Tema-Ghana, Aug. 31, – The Tema Community One Market Queen Mothers has appealed to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) to engage traders and food vendors whose activities have the potential to trigger a fire outbreak.
Mr. Akwesi Agyeman, Chairman of the group, alleged that the activities of food vendors and others who cook for personal consumption in the market have contributed to the frequent fire outbreaks in most of our markets.
He also cited the works of fake or unqualified electrical contractors and self-style electricians who parade the markets daily undertaking electrical works as dangerous.
Mr. Agyeman, who was speaking at a meeting between the Market Queen Mothers and the GNFS on behalf of the women, also alleged that some of the food vendors had faulty gas cylinders.
The Queen Mothers, numbering over 50, said they will be reporting illegal electrical connections and negligence because they are contributing resources and time to better manage the entire market population.
The Regional Fire Inspector, Divisional Officer III (DOIII), Samuel Fiifi Oppong, educating the market women at the meeting, said fire is believed to be based on four elements being present: fuel, ignition source, atmospheric oxygen, and mechanism of the reaction.
The most frequent sources of flames include flammable gases used in cooking, upholstery, and clothes, as well as petrol and kerosene as everyday solvents and combustible dusts such as those found in market starch and office toner.
He also tasked the leaders with protecting the fire hydrants from encroachment, even if they hadn’t been in use for many years or if they didn’t serve their intended purpose.
The Regional Fire Inspector also addressed some common misconceptions about their line of work, explaining that if there are no hydrants nearby, as there are in the case of the market, it makes it much harder to quickly put out a fire.
However, if there are hydrants nearby, they can move the vehicle elsewhere to fill up with water.
The GNFS Tema Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer I (ACFOI), Doris Lamptey, upon accepting their plea, said that although they have a fire safety task force operating already, they will further collaborate with the Ghana Police Service after the scheduled sensitization with all traders.
ACFOI Lamptey said that after educating them more and introducing fire extinguisher types and uses, the task force, together with the police, will meet to put modalities in place to begin fishing out such dangerous individuals.
While appealing for their collaboration to foster a safe environment and reduce fire incidents, the commander applauded their suggestion to apprehend miscreants, stressing that if at least one person is arrested, it will serve as a deterrent to the rest.
The encounter with Queen Mothers forms part of the activities marking the 2023 Fire Safety Week by the Regional Command to mark the 60th anniversary of the GNFS on the theme “60 Years of Existence, Fire Safety, and the Choice of a Safer Environment.
