By Juliet Aguiar DUGBARTEY
Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has established an 11-member committee to develop strategies for preventing fire outbreaks at market centres across the region.
“You have been given 10 working days to visit all the markets, with a focus on Takoradi, Sekondi and Agona Nkwanta in the Ahanta West Municipality. You will be provided with all the necessary logistics to enable you to execute your mandate efficiently,” he said.
He said the committee’s findings and recommendations are expected to guide the regional administration in implementing measures to safeguard markets from fire incidents.
At the inauguration of the committee at Sekondi, he explained: “So many fire outbreaks are being experienced in some market centres across the country in recent time. I wouldn’t want any unforeseen circumstance to happen in the region, let’s see how best we can bring awareness to our market women”.
Mr. Nelson pointed out that any fire outbreak at the market comes at a huge cost, leading to loss of capital, impact on livelihoods and other economic setbacks.
“We must be proactive to help prevent fire outbreaks. Do your best to assess fire safety standards and ensure that all measures are put in place,” he added.
ACFO II David Asah Darko, Western Regional Fire Officer, said: “We have been proactive in this regard and have the patrol team that goes round the market to do inspection”.
“It’s an ongoing and a wake-up call to all of us. One major challenge at most of the market centres has to do with negligence on the part of some women – they cook and they leave the fire unattended to,” he said.
He assured the minister: “We have all the service coming together to protect the region against any fire outbreak”.
