President John Mahama has appealed to chiefs to help step up public education on fires in the country after four seperate fire incidents were reported in the past four days.

The President says the severity of this year’s hamatan has the potential of triggering a number of fire outbreaks.

Speaking in a meeting with the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State Togbe Afede XIV, President Mahama recalled the situation in 1983, a year in which Ghana suffered from frequent bushfires and acute shortage in the supply of foodstuffs which led to hunger.

The recent fires “remind me of 1983 which was a very terrible year for Ghana. We had a lot of bush fires”

Ghana is experiencing a cold-dry and dusty trade winds, blowing over the West African subcontinent. It is a period associated with fires.

Some farmers may also deliberately set fires to clear the vegetation ahead of the rainy season expected in June. But President Mahama wants the Chiefs to use their influence to prevent such possible disasters.

"I don’t think that with this harmattan we should set these fires and destroy vegetation. People should be very careful with fire," he said.

During the past four days, there have been four reported incidents of fire outbreak in the country.

Over one hundred stores have been razed to the ground at the Kumasi Central Market last Thursday in the Ashanti region.

The following day, Friday, fire destroyed parts of the Amanfuom Sanctuary in Techiman in the Bono Ahafo region.  Raging fire later on the same day swept through the Achimota Forest.

The Tuobodom Senior High School in the Brong Ahafo Region was Sunday morning gutted by fire.

The Chief Fire Officer, Dr. Albert Brown-Gaisie has expressed frustrations about Ghanaian attitude towards safety.

“Inspite of all the education that we have given to the public, people still tend to be adamant to fire safety regulations.  Out of our own negligence, carelessness, the fire occurs and we call for government intervention. Safety must come from us”