The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) is to disconnect all illegal electrical connections within markets in Accra as part of measures put in place by the assembly to curb the frequent incidence of fire outbreaks.
It warned that anybody found to have reconnected after the exercise would be prosecuted.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Alfred Oko Vanderpuiye , who announced this in Accra yesterday at a press briefing, said this formed part of 13 resolutions that the assembly took at an emergency metro security meeting last Friday.
He said the exercise would be conducted in collaboration with the Electricity Company of Ghana.
He said the assembly resolved that all the alleys and walkways would be cleared of containers and trading activities in order to create easy access to the markets.
In most of the fire outbreaks, there were no easy access to the markets for the fire service, resulting in the fire spreading rapidly within the markets, and destroying properties worth millions of cedis.
Nobody would also be allowed to sell livestock like goats, sheep, birds, in any market unless the place has been designated by the AMA for that purpose.
According to the MCE, henceforth, all markets within the metropolis will be opened for business at 6 a.m. everyday and closed at 6 p.m.
He noted that there would be no selling in any of the markets at the Central Business District on Sundays and no person or persons, other than scheduled officers of the AMA, the police and fire service personnel in uniforms, shall on any occasion be in the market at hours other than the stated times.
Mr Vanderpuije indicated that no person or persons shall be allowed to sleep or undertake any form of cooking in any of the AMA markets, except the chop bars and restaurants.
He said no industrial machines and combustible items were to be installed in markets without approval from the fire service and the AMA.
The assembly will also replace all damaged gates in the markets and security lights will be installed by the AMA.
Periodic awareness and fire simulation exercises and training will be undertaken in the markets, by the fire service.
Monthly awards for the best market will be given based on maintenance of safety standards and environmental cleanliness.
Fire outbreaks within the metropolis in recent times have caused misery, hopelessness and confusion to over 1,000 traders who operated within the markets.
Two people escaped death and about 30 structures were destroyed when fire gutted a portion of the Konkomba Market at Agbogbloshie in Accra recently, after the Kantamanto fire.
<<Print>>