The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), led by the Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Rashid Kwame Nisawu, has conducted a public education on fire safety for traders at the Kantamanto market.
Speaking at the training workshop at the Kantamanto market square on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, ACFO Rashid Nisawu, highlighted the need for traders to adopt fire safety measures to prevent future outbreaks.
“We’re all aware of what happened last year December at Kantamanto where the whole place was engulfed in fire; what I’m trying to say here is that what happened last year shouldn’t happen again and for that reason, the minimum requirement that we require for traders here is:
“To provide us with sources of water supply for fire fighting purposes – Hydrants; and those hydrants, I also advise that some of them should not be hooked on Ghana Water Company (GWC) water means.
“They should be dedicated to boreholes where we can get water 24hours anytime there’s an emergency,” he explained.
He proposed a collaborative between leadership of the Kantamanto market and the GNFS to establish a fire personnel station at the market, enabling the service to provide regular education and patrols to reduce the risks of fire outbreaks.
Rashid mentioned the importance of a Public Address System (PAS) in the market to quickly inform traders and customers about safety protocols and emergency procedures.
“If the PAS is not there, it makes things very difficult, in modern markets, the PA Systems help in the dissemination of information so if you have a message that you want to carry on, all you have to do is to go and slot it into the system and then anybody who is in the market will hear what you’re saying.”
He continued, “but if it’s not there, what it means is that you’ll be roaming from shed to shed which is not sustainable,” he noted.
He identified congestion as a major operational challenge for the fire service in Kantamanto market, hindering their ability to respond to emergencies on time.
He stressed the need for adequate space in the market to facilitate firefighter access, ensuring timely and effective firefighting operations.
“What I’ll ask is that they’ll create space here so that if there’s an emergency, we can have access to fight the fire effectively,” he said further.
