The Deputy Minister for the Interior, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, has called for urgent reforms in fire safety management, particularly in Ghana’s markets, to curb the devastating impact of recurring fire outbreaks.

Speaking at the JoyNews National Dialogue on Ghana’s fire cycle on Thursday, April 3, he warned that the country has reached a critical point where fire prevention must be taken seriously.

“We’ve gotten to the stage where we need to take a step back and look at the issues as they are,” Mr Terlabi stated.

The minister lamented the destruction of livelihoods, collapsed businesses, and the tragic loss of lives caused by frequent market fires.

He pointed to a troubling pattern of fire outbreaks in densely populated regions like Greater Accra and Ashanti, emphasising that these are not random incidents but symptoms of deeper systemic failures.

“Apart from looking for fire extinguishing infrastructure, there’s something that we need to do as a people who believe that we must fight this rampant occurrence of fire outbreaks.

“Even if we have all the fire accoutrements in place and we still behave the way we do, we will still have the fire,” he warned.

Mr Terlabi also highlighted poor urban planning, inadequate waste management, and market congestion as key risk factors for market fire outbreaks.

He referenced a recent incident in Kumasi, where fire service personnel struggled to contain a blaze due to the market’s overcrowded layout, blocking access for fire tenders.

To mitigate these risks, the minister outlined a multi-faceted strategy aimed at improving fire safety in Ghana’s markets.

Mr Terlabi mentioned the need for stricter market management protocols, creating space for fire officers within the markets, regulated market operating hours, enhanced waste management systems and dedicated fire prevention infrastructure.

“If we agree that I am the owner of a shop, I owe it a duty to protect the next person, and make sure that whatever starts from my end will not spread to the next shop, then you have to take into consideration the space in your shop,” Mr Terlabi stressed.

He also raised concerns about vendors stocking highly flammable materials alongside food and clothing, urging closer regulation of market commodities to minimise fire hazards.

The minister called for stronger partnerships between district assemblies, market associations, fire services, and local chiefs to enforce effective fire prevention measures.