There is no human society that can avoid tragedies. In spite of this basic fact, some of the tragedies that have befallen the people did not occur because of natural circumstances. They happened as a result of our actions and inaction.
For instance, whenever there is a heavy downpour, the consequence will be floods. But the damage or havoc arising out of heavy rains can be mitigated if the drains, streams and gutters are not choked with refuse and plastic waste.
Accidents on the roads can also occur as a result of many factors, such as bad roads, but recklessness and lack of maintenance of vehicles on the part of drivers could be checked.
Domestic and industrial fires can also occur because of our disregard for safety standards at many of our markets. The traders undertake the wiring of their premises without due regard for safety standards. They also cook at the markets and expose the naked fires to combustible materials such as cooking oil, textiles and old newspapers.
Since the beginning of the year, the country has experienced many ferocious fires that have destroyed property and killed many people.
The Ghana National Fire Services (GNFS) has reported that 57 people lost their lives in 3,077 fires recorded throughout the country from January to June this year.
The number of fatalities is alarming, judging from the circumstances under which the major markets have been gutted by fire this year.
The roll call of major installations destroyed by fire is mind-boggling. The facilities that have virtually been reduced to the ground include the Kantamanto Market, portions of the Makola No. 2 Market at Agbogbloshie and the Abuja slum, all in Accra.
The Central Market in Kumasi was also gutted by fire, rendering many people jobless.
The government and the district assemblies have put in place measures to stem these fires. They include the deployment of the security personnel of the various assemblies, personnel of the GNFS and the police to these markets after 6 p.m. every day to police the markets to nip in the bud the activities of saboteurs.
Alarmed by the spate of fires, the government invited experts from United States of America to assist the country to unravel the mystery surrounding the fires.
The Daily Graphic is aware that the GNFS has alerted various district assemblies that have oversight responsibility over our markets to the risks at our markets.
Again, our market structures are old and dilapidated in some cases, for which reason the report recommends to the assemblies to rebuild them.
The GNFS also recommends that all markets must have access routes, so that GNFS personnel could move their fire engines to put out fires in case of emergencies.
The country is already struggling to find jobs for many young people who are coming out of our universities and other tertiary institutions and we do not need to add to these challenges by inflicting avoidable pain on ourselves.
The Daily Graphic has, time and again, said one of the major challenges facing the country is our disregard for rules and regulations.
We think the time has come for whoever holds the stick or authority to enforce regulations to do so without looking at whose ox will be gored. Our inaction has caused a lot of pain to many of our compatriots and the Daily Graphic thinks that the time has come for all to resolve to do the right thing, so that all of us will be at peace with our environment.
It is for this reason that the Daily Graphic is appealing to all the district assemblies to bring all our markets up to modern standards to avoid the market fires that have destroyed life and properties in recent times.
<<Print>>