Market fires, the price for indiscipline or sabotage?

The conspiracy theories are being propounded again. It happened in the past when fire gutted important facilities in the country.
Today, portions of the Makola Number Two Market at Agbogbloshie in Accra are in flames, destroying the property of many traders.

The traders, like the victims of other ferocious fires, have lost their livelihoods, and what they do to keep body and soul together is anybody’s guess.

Since the outbreak of the fire at the Makola Number Two Market last Tuesday night, there have been reports and remarks on the possible cause of the disaster.

Some have traced the fire to the realms, both physical and spiritual. Others believe it could have been caused by some opponents of the government or by certain elements who have an axe to grind with the traders.

We are concerned about the frequency of fire outbreaks in recent times and we also think these outbreaks are beyond the ordinary.

However, we shall be shooting ourselves in the foot if we do not interrogate the goings-on with the view to getting to the bottom of the fire outbreaks that have assumed a national dimension.

Not too long ago, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) initiated moves to restore order in the way business is conducted at markets in Accra.

Among the measures are the decision to close the markets at 6 p.m. each day and the engagement of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to check electrical connections at the markets to ensure that there are no illegal connections or exposed electrical wires.

The Daily Graphic thinks the conspiracy theories will not help deal with the challenges that are militating against our development process, including fire outbreaks at the markets.

We think that instead of looking for scapegoats for the fire outbreaks, the authorities ought to spend time to fine tune some of the initiatives by the AMA to prevent fire outbreaks at the markets and other public places.

It is an open secret that many of our traders cook at the markets, using either gas cookers or coal pots that are not properly maintained. The markets lack access routes to enable the free movement of fire engines in the event of fire outbreaks because the traders have encroached on the walkways.

Again, as values have broken down, the statutory authorities are unable to enforce their own bye-laws to compel the traders to respect the rules.

Is it not strange that the assemblies, including the AMA, have officers at the markets but the wrong things continue to be done, reflecting the extent of impunity in  society, for which we are paying the ultimate price but we have refused to move away from the looming tragedy?

The Daily Graphic appeals to the government, the assemblies and, indeed, traders at the markets that as a country we cannot continue to look on helplessly as the actions of a few others send us to the brink of national disaster.

We have said it on many occasions that the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) can also do well to enforce the fire safety standards in all public facilities. It is sad,  but the reality is that some public facilities do not even have fire extinguishers at vantage points, as required by law.

The only way to make progress in our society and avoid more calamities is to ensure that everybody abides by the rules and norms.

The change towards a desirable end in our society must first start with behavioural change. Unless we change our attitude to the conduct of public business in the country, more calamites will befall us.

Let us object to all acts of impunity and get everybody to follow the narrow path that engenders law and order that promotes a better society.

The GNFS must make public the findings of all its investigations into fire outbreaks, so that we can take precautions.

Those findings will help the security agencies and the AMA in their attempts to expose any unseen hands behind the Makola Number Two Market fire outbreak.