Deputy interior minister visits Makola Market fire site

Mr James Agalga, Deputy Minister of the Interior on Sunday visited the Makola Market No. 1 near the Ghana Law School in Accra which was gutted by a fire on Friday night.

The fire, which was the second in about two months, was reported to have started at midnight on Friday and razed down stores and offices.

He expressed worry over the huge loss and sympathized with victims and traders who lost their wares and cash, following the fire outbreak in the market and gave the assurance that measures would be put in place to ensure a safer, better secured and planned market at the site to boost economic activities and secure the livelihood that was destroyed as a result of the fire.

Mr Agalga appealed to the affected traders to adhere to the constraints and co-operate with the Police and fire officers to help investigate the cause of the fire, and that, the outcome and recommendation of the investigations would be used to avoid future fire outbreaks in the country’s markets.

Mr Agalga advised the traders affected, the market security and all stakeholders to take safety measures to protect lives and properties in the market.

Brigadier General John Bosco Guyiri, Chief Fire Officer, said the outbreak was reported to the Makola fire station by a tea seller around and his outfit respondent swiftly and brought the fire under control.

He advised traders at the market to stay away from the affected area whilst investigations continue to establish the cause of the fire outbreak, saying that, this would give the officers the opportunity to gather evidence and cautioned the security service on duty at the site not to temper with evidence.

He said it was the responsibility of all to protect lives and property by adopting measures that would curb fire outbreaks in the country’s markets.

The Deputy Minister was accompanied by Mr. Julius Debrah, the Greater Accra Regional Minister and his Deputy, Mr Isaac Vanderpuye, Mr Alfred Vanderpuije, the Mayor of Accra and the Police and Fire Officials.