AMA Directive On Markets Is Not Supported By Facts - BPS

The Bureau for Public Safety (BPS) has indicated that contrary to the position adopted by the Accra. Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), there is no empirical evidence to prove that the closure of markets by 6pm will curb the recurring fire outbreaks. �Allowing the market to close at 6 may have remote connections to fire incidents but we do not think that that is what will stop fires in our markets. �We must be very careful not to think that allowing people to close at 6pm from the market is a solution to the fires in the market, especially if we have not conducted any comprehensive investigations into the recent fire outbreaks,� he stated. The AMA on Monday ordered that all shops in the major markets in Accra be closed by 6pm. According to the Mayor of Accra, Dr Oko Vanderpuije, the decision is one of the measures being introduced to curb the recent fire outbreaks in the markets. Executive Director of the Bureau for Public Safety, Davidson Akwada, speaking on Citi FM�s Eyewitness News, noted however that a comprehensive investigation should be conducted in order to determine the targeted actions to take. According to him, �the Ghana National Fire Service upon research indicated that major fires normally occur between 22:00 and 5:00 am and so the AMA asking the markets to close at 18:00, I don�t see the connection.�