The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Upper East Region faces many challenges despite its commitment to managing rising fire hazards in the busy Bolgatanga markets.
With the recent fire outbreaks in markets in various parts of Ghana, the GNFS in Bolgatanaga has been taking measures to avert an occurrence, aware of the fire dangers that loom over the Old Market and the New Market.
While the last major fire incident in the Old Bolgatanga Market dates back over ten years, a fire that damaged shops close to the New Market just four months ago has exposed the urgent need for effective fire safety protocols.
The environments of both markets significantly contribute to fire risks.
On a typical market day, which comes every three days, thousands of vendors and buyers fill these bustling marketplaces. However, issues such as unauthorized structures, improper waste management, and a lack of fire safety awareness among traders create hazardous conditions.
Linda Akupa, a Leader of the Market Women’s Association, pointed to the practice of open burning as a critical factor increasing the fire risks.
She said traders often discard plastic waste and other refuse by burning it in areas where young men frequently smoke, creating pockets of danger that could ignite uncontrollable fires.
“After burning the refuse, most people do not wait to ensure that the fire is safely put out. They just set the rubbish on fire and walk away”, Akupa said.
Margarette Nsoh, a trader, said, “It is not right to light fires anywhere within the market, but some do it. If a fire is not properly extinguished and the wind carries it away, you can imagine what would happen.”
Upper East Regional Fire Commander, ACFO II Richard Apsaful Sagoe, said the GNFS has observed the existing dangers in the Bolgatanga markets.
“Some of the major hazards that we normally identify are naked fires that the market women will mostly cook in the markets (and not put out), before they close, then illegal connections, and then some gather rubbish and burn, and leave it unattended”, he revealed.
ACFO II Richard Apsaful Sagoe said they have put some measures in place to ensure safety in the markets.
He said there were two teams present in both markets to educate traders on fire safety and serve as first responders.
“Routinely, we meet the market leaders to discuss the challenges that they are facing. We’ve also earmarked all the markets as fire stations, and we man them 24/7. We have a 3-shift system with the fire engine, going around to identify if there are any hazards, then we quickly take action”, the fire commander said.
However, the fire teams operate in precarious conditions as their bases in the markets are located within incomplete and poorly maintained structures, further complicating their response efforts.
In the New Market, the fire service team is stationed in a building under construction, while the team in the Old Market operates by moving around because a dilapidated facility allocated to them needs rehabilitation.
The GNFS is nonetheless striving through the challenges to avert fire disasters in the markets.
ACFO II Richard Apsaful Sagoe said, “We are forming a task force. This time, when we come, whatever we can do for us not to experience any fire, we are going to do it. We are going to decongest the market. So our advice to the market leaders and the traders is they should listen to us, because daily, we do our work, but daily, they are also creating the same problem.”
With the Bolgatanga markets serving as a critical hub for commerce in the Upper East region, it has become urgent to establish a comprehensive waste management system and enforce stricter regulations.
For now, the safety of traders and customers hangs in the balance, in need of immediate attention and concerted action from all stakeholders.
