<<Print>>

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection on Monday called on the Ghana National Fire Service to set-up Satellite Fire Signal (SFS) and information centres at vantage commercial centres across the country. In view of the recent rampant fire outbreaks especially at commercial centres; �it is strategic to set-up Satellite Fire Signal centres at markets, lorry stations, the ministries, communities and ...commercial centres. �Such SFS centres should be equipped with personnel, signal transmission gadgets, and other simple technical means of communication,� Nana Oye Lithur told the Ghana News Agency in an interview after visiting Kantamanto Market to empathise with victims of last Sunday�s fire disaster that destroyed the commercial hub. She said the SFS would serve as first point for transmitting distress calls to the appropriate fire station for rapid response. Fire gutted a number of shops at the Kantamanto market in Accra on Sunday destroying properties worth millions of Ghana cedis. The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is yet to determine the cause of the fire. Mrs Oye Lithur said the Ministry of Gender would collaborate with the GNFS to launch an educational campaign at the various markets and commercial centres to educate the public. She also appealed to the Electricity Company of Ghana to conduct periodic risk assessment at the markets and other public institutions. She said the Ministry would send social workers to assist the victims of Kantamanto Market to deal with post-hazard syndrome. The Gender Minister also appealed to the National Disaster Management Organisation, Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA), and other strategic partners to continue to provide support services to the victims. She also called on corporate bodies to complement Government�s interventions to assist the victims. Mrs Oye Lithur expressed the Ministry�s sympathies to all traders who have lost their merchandise and livelihood with its rippling economic effects on their families. She also called on the AMA and other assemblies to collaborate with the GNFS, architects and engineers to design markets and public places with outmost safety measures instituted. Mrs Oye Lithur assured the victims that the Government and its agencies are putting in interim measures to mitigate the devastating impact on the traders. �The incident is a wake-up call to ensure that safety measures and bye-laws are strictly adhered to,� she noted. She appealed to financial and insurance institution to design insurance products suitable for small and medium traders and businesses and intensify sensitisation strategies to make the products highly patronised. Mr Ohene Mensah Kakra, Spokesperson of Hawkers and Street Vendors Association described the Kantamanto fire as a national disaster. �This is a tragedy to all Ghanaians and not only the traders and appealed to Government to swiftly respond and support the victims.�