The Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong, has criticised what she described as the growing negligence and stubbornness of some members of the public, saying such attitudes are undermining the country’s broader fire safety efforts.

According to her, while stakeholders have been working to enhance safety infrastructure, including the construction of water hydrants at strategic locations, many of these initiatives are being compromised by the actions of locals who build on or block access to the hydrants.

"These issues are being addressed, especially by the Water Company; they are doing well; they are trying to help us with new hydrants in the various cities and towns and I think it is in the good direction but stubbornness and negligence (on the part of members of the public), I don't know the adjective to use, are too much," She lamented to Joy Prime at Katamanto, where she led her team in battling Tuesday night's fire outbreak at the market.

According to her, this disregard for public safety makes the work of the Ghana National Fire Service increasingly difficult and exposes communities to greater danger during emergencies.

"It is very frustrating," she said.

She urged the public to support safety initiatives and respect fire safety regulations to help prevent future disasters.

Tuesday's fire ravaged several shops at Kantamanto’s Tazani Lane near Ecobank.

According to the Ghana National Fire Service, the distress call came in at about 1:31 a.m., prompting an immediate response from multiple fire stations across the capital.

The first fire appliance reportedly arrived at the scene at 1:42 a.m., and firefighting teams battled the blaze for more than three hours before bringing it under control.