The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has expressed concerns over the ongoing reconstruction of the Kantamanto Market by traders, citing a lack of consultation and the absence of proper fire safety measures.
The market, a major hub for second-hand clothing in Accra, was devastated by a fire on January 2, 2025. The blaze destroyed hundreds of shops and goods worth millions of Ghana cedis, leaving traders eager to rebuild and resume business operations as quickly as possible.
However, the GNFS has advised that the reconstruction process be paused to allow for proper planning and the incorporation of fire-resistant materials and safety systems.
Speaking on Point Blank, a segment of Eyewitness News, Alex King Nartey, a member of the GNFS communication team, emphasised the need for collaboration between the traders and the fire service.
“We advise the reconstruction is halted for a proper plan for the building to be put together, and proper fire-resistant materials. A proper building that will incorporate a fire detection system and be able to incorporate fire fighting tools at vantage points so that any time there is fire these tools, like the sprinklers, will come off and put out the fire,” he stated.
Nartey also criticised the use of wood in the rebuilding process, highlighting its vulnerability to fires. He stressed the importance of a collaborative approach to ensure the market is rebuilt with adequate safety standards.
“Ideally, per the operations of the service, we would have preferred a consultation with the Ghana National Fire Service and then we make recommendations on how the rebuilding can be done with the right fire-resistant materials.
“Mind you, they are still rebuilding with wood. You can’t keep on doing the same thing and expecting different results. In this case, we as a service wish that the market people would have come together with us so that we become very instrumental in the reconstruction,” he stated.
Source: citinewsroom.com