In a concerted effort to boost public awareness and reduce the risk of fire outbreaks in commercial centres, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) held a fire prevention campaign at the Madina Market on Tuesday. The community-centred initiative brought together key stakeholders in an open discussion, including the Regional Fire Officer, ACFOI Rashid Kwame Nisawu, the Madina Municipal Fire Officer, ACFOII Bertha Quartey, the Madina Market Queen, Madam Esi Yeboah, and Assembly Members from the La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, Hon. Nii Odai and Hon. Abdul-Jalil Yakubu.

The campaign, themed "Prevention is Our Priority," focused on sensitising traders, transport operators, and market users about fire safety protocols, emergency preparedness, and the critical need for collective action to reduce fire hazards in one of Accra's busiest trading hubs.

During the interactive session, the Regional Fire Officer ACFOI Rashid Kwame Nisawu stressed the importance of collaborative efforts in fire prevention.

He acknowledged the market's economic significance and the dense human and vehicular activity that makes it a high-risk area for fire incidents.

“This campaign is not just about education, it's about building a safety culture.

Fire safety is a shared responsibility, and we must all play our part,” he emphasised.

He also debunked a common misconception that the Fire Service often arrives at fire scenes without water, a claim that has circulated widely on social media and among the public.

"Let me set the record straight: The Ghana National Fire Service does not respond to fires without water. Every fire tender dispatched to a fire scene is fully equipped.

However, there are times when access to the fire scene is blocked or water supply is delayed due to external conditions beyond our control, such as congestion or the absence of functional hydrants,” he clarified.

One of the pressing concerns raised during the discussion was accessibility within the market during emergencies.

Traders and Assembly Members admitted that poor planning, unauthorised structures, and indiscriminate parking of vehicles significantly hinder emergency response.

The Regional Fire Officer echoed these concerns, noting that “fire trucks require space to manoeuvre.

If access roads are blocked or narrowed by unauthorised stalls and parked vehicles, it delays response time and puts lives and property at risk.”

As a solution, the Assembly pledged to collaborate with market authorities and transport unions to designate clear emergency access routes and enforce bylaws that prevent obstruction of critical paths.

 Another issue tackled during the campaign was the widespread problem of illegal electrical connections, which has been a major cause of market fires across the country.

According to the Fire Service, many of the fires in recent years have been traced to faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, and unauthorised connections.

The Madina Market Queen, Madam Esi Yeboah, addressed this concern by calling on traders to engage only certified electricians and to report suspicious or unsafe electrical setups.

“We cannot continue to gamble with our safety.

We must prioritise proper wiring and routine maintenance,” she said, adding that she would lead an internal campaign among traders to identify and eliminate unsafe connections.

The campaign also shone a spotlight on the lack of functional fire hydrants within and around the market. Both Assembly members admitted that while some hydrants exist, many are either damaged or inaccessible due to encroachments and poor maintenance.

The GNFS urged the Assembly to map out the location of all hydrants, ensure regular servicing, and explore the installation of additional ones in strategic points.

The Fire Officer added that “a fire hydrant is a lifeline during an emergency.

The difference between a manageable fire and a catastrophe could be the availability of water at the right place and time.”

As part of the campaign, GNFS personnel conducted live fire extinguisher demonstrations, teaching traders how to properly use the devices during initial fire outbreaks.

Educational materials on fire safety, evacuation procedures, and emergency contact protocols were distributed across the market.

The GNFS also announced plans for routine fire risk assessments, unannounced inspections, and trader sensitisation programmes, all aimed at sustaining the fire safety culture promoted through the campaign.

Participants lauded the initiative as a timely and necessary intervention.

Many traders expressed a renewed sense of responsibility and called for regular engagements with the Fire Service.

In her closing remarks, the Madina Market Queen appealed for unity and vigilance: “The safety of our market is the responsibility of every trader, every leader, and every customer. Let us work together to keep Madina Market safe, clean, and secure for all.”

With the success of this event, the Ghana National Fire Service plans to replicate similar fire prevention campaigns across other markets in the Greater Accra Region, as part of its national strategy to promote fire resilience and public safety.

By ASTNO Jamaldeen Wiayuka