The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, Mr. Ado Alex King Nartey, has expressed confidence that the fire service will effectively tackle the persistent issue of market fires by restoring fire tenders that are currently out of commission and establishing permanent fire coverage at key market locations.

Speaking on the Joy News AM Show today, Mr. Nartey outlined the service's commitment to improving its operational capacity.

“It is feasible because, as a service, our management is committed to repairing the fire tenders that are out of commission and getting them back on the road,” Mr. Nartey stated.

He went on to explain that, alongside the Eastern Region Commander, he recently held a meeting with the Chief Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, where they discussed potential challenges in restoring the fire tenders.

“We reviewed the obstacles we might face, and the Chief Officer assured us that he will ensure additional fuel is made available to the fire stations, so they can reach more remote areas, including markets,” he said.

Mr. Nartey acknowledged that some markets are located at a considerable distance from fire stations, which can delay emergency response times. “Sometimes, these market locations can be quite far from the stations, but with the provision of extra fuel, we will be better equipped to respond quickly,” he explained.

Looking forward, Mr. Nartey emphasised that this initiative is not merely a temporary solution for market fires.

“We hope that, moving forward, this will not just be a short-term fix for market fires but will lead to the establishment of permanent fire tenders at major markets,” he said. “This will provide a long-term solution to the issue of market fires across the country.”