A comprehensive document that spells out the role of all stakeholders in the fire sector over persistent fire outbreaks in the country is required, says the acting Weija Municipal Fire Officer, Divisional Officer III, Ben Courlis Paittoo.
According to him, the unavailability of such a document has contributed to the numerous fire outbreaks experienced in the country in recent times, especially at market places.
He indicated that with such a document, stakeholders would be made aware of their responsibilities and sanctions that awaited them should they fail to perform as required.
The Acting Municipal Fire Officer made these statements when he and fire officers of the Weija Division of the Ghana National Fire Service toured three markets in the Ga South municipality to ascertain the state of alertness of the markets in case of any emergency.
The team visited the Galilea markets at Kasoa, Anyaa and Mallam markets in Accra.
Divisional Officer III, Courlis Paitoo, observed that the proposed document when developed would help authorities hold people whose actions or inaction causes fire outbreaks.
Stakeholders forum
Mr Paittoo said from next month his outfit would organise a stakeholders� forum to deliberate on issues affecting the delivery of effective and efficient services.
The intended forum would discuss the roles played by various interest groups and come up with a fire safety manual to guide their operations.
Market Visited
At the Galilea Market where the team first visited, an office allocated to the fire service had been taken over by executive officers of the market.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Secretary to the Galilea Market Traders Association, Mr Daniel Okpoti Anann, said a new place had been allocated to house the fire officers.
But when the Daily Graphic visited the place, it was found to be too small to accommodate personnel of the fire service and their equipment.
Residents had also taken over the place and some were busily seen undertaking domestic chores.
A small room had been set aside to be used as an office for the fire service at the Anyaa Market. It had a table and a chair with no fire safety equipment in place, however, the construction of a two storey modern fire service station, initiated by the Assembly Member for the area, Mr Joseph Obimpeh, had begun.
The fire service station at the Mallam Market was in a bad state. The compound was covered in a pool of water and the roofs of the building had developed cracks.
Mr Paitoo said the situation at the various stations hindered the fire service from rendering effective services even as it was ready to help reduce market fires.
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