Takoradi Market is sitting on a time bomb
The Western Regional Fire Committee has warned that the Takoradi Central Market, popularly known as the ‘Market Circle’, is sitting on a time bomb. It has accordingly called for immediate measures to forestall any fire outbreak.
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During a tour of the market, the committee noticed that many of the market women cooked in the market, using defective Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders and coalpots.
Illegal electricity connections using undersize cables to steal power from the mains of the electricity legally supplied to the market, was also identified as a common practice.
This was said to be particularly dangerous, as illegally connected electricity resulted in overloading that caused the cables to heat up and become easily susceptible to fire.
In addition, it came to light that only two out of the six water hydrants in the market, were functioning. Also, the market had high stocks of combustible materials that could cause fire to spread at a fast rate, should there be an outbreak.
The District Fire Officer of the Ghana Fire Service, Divisional Fire Officer III, Ms Comfort Quamyne, said many of the women in the market used fire to prepare food and carried them home, while others cooked for sale.
“It is interesting to note that many of the women do not know that the necks of the LPG cylinders they are using have defects and they have packed several of the cylinders at one place,” she said.
Additionally, Ms Quamyne said, the oil used in preparing food in commercial quantities was usually kept in bottles which were placed close to naked fire.
For his part, the Deputy Western Regional Minister, Mr Alfred Ekow Gyan called for immediate steps by all the stakeholders to address the situation.
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He asked members of the team, especially those from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to submit a report, outlining plans to rectify the illegalities identified during the tour.
He said the regional team would collaborate and work closely with the market women to address the flash points which were identified in the market.
By Richard Q. Quartey