Parliament directs joint committee to investigate market fire outbreaks

The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, has tasked a joint committee on Defence, Interior and Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to investigate the recent fire outbreaks that have devastated several markets across the country, including the latest incident at the Adum Market in Kumasi.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Fomena, in issuing the directive, emphasised the need for a thorough probe into the causes of these recurring market fires and urged the committee to propose appropriate remedial measures.

“I will refer this particular statement to a joint committee on Defence and Interior and that of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, to look into recent fire outbreaks in our markets — Kantamanto, Asafo, Techiman, Makola, Kwadaso, Adum Market and those that do not come to mind at the moment,” he stated.

“They should look into all these markets and consider the causes of these outbreaks and possibly recommend to the House the appropriate remedies that we can adopt.” he added.

The committee has been tasked to report its findings to Parliament in the first week of the second meeting.

Directive

The directive follows a statement by the NPP MP for Subin, Kofi Obiri Yeboah, who described the fire at Adum Market as one of the worst market disasters in recent history. 

He lamented the extent of the destruction, revealing that nearly 2,000 shops had been gutted by the blaze, with losses running into millions of Ghana Cedis.

“The scene was heart-breaking — as men and women risked their lives through the inferno to salvage what they could as the fire consumed everything they had laboured for. Properties and goods estimated into millions of Ghana Cedis have been lost, plunging many families into unbearable despair, without an iota of hope,” Mr Yeboah said.

Commendation, politicisation

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Ketu North, Eric Edem Agbana, commended President John Mahama and the Ashanti Regional Minister for their swift intervention following the Adum Market fire.

He highlighted the government’s commitment, emphasising that the regional minister and his team mobilised over GH¢ 600,000 within 24 hours to support affected traders.

He also praised the presence of top government officials at the scene, emphasising that disaster response should be devoid of partisanship.

The NDC MP for Chiana-Paga, Nikyema Billa Alamzy, also echoed this sentiment, urging an end to the political blame game when market fires occur.

The NDC MP for Salaga South, Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, stressed the need for market modernisation while ensuring that original shop owners retain their spaces.

She argued that traders often resist redevelopment due to fears of displacement, calling on city authorities to make markets safer for women who depend on them for their livelihoods.

Other MPs focused on proactive solutions and government responsibility.

The NPP MP for Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku, called for immediate structural corrections in markets, warning that the dry season could lead to more fires if preventive measures were not taken.

The NPP MP for Kwadaso, Prof. Kingsley Nyarko, urged the government to include provisions in the national budget to address the aftermath of the Adum fire and support affected traders.