Call for stringent laws to curb rampant fire outbreaks

Gomoa-Pomadze (C/R), Jan. 31, GNA - Okutupong Apata Kofi IV, former Omanhene of Gomoa-Ajumako Traditional Area, has called for stringent laws to curb the rampant outbreaks of domestic and bushfires. He said unless such stringent measures were taken and offenders punished severely such destructive incidents in which human lives were lost and property worth billions as well as food crops were destroyed would persist.

Okutupong Apata-Kofi said apart from the untold economic and other hardships suffered by the immediate victims, the nation also suffered serious economic consequences.

He said just like natural disasters like floods, when out of the negligence of one person or persons, fire swept through a village, crop plantations or destroyed a market complex or an educational institution, it affected not only the victims of that disaster, but the entire community and the nation as a whole.

Okutupong Apata-Kofi was commenting on the increasing number of the major domestic and bushfires in recent times during an interaction with the press at Gomoa-Pomadze, near Winneba-Junction on Wednesday. He recalled several major fire outbreaks in big market complexes in Tema, Accra, Sekondi-Takoradi, Kumasi, Sunyani and other big towns, and said it was about time Ghanaians learnt to handle fire prudently. Okutupong Apata-Kofi appealed to the authorities of the Ghana National Fire Service and other relevant agencies to ensure that individuals and big time estate developers always used the right type of electrical wires for construction to avert the rampant occurrence of fire breaks in market places and homes.

He also appealed to religious leaders, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), assembly members, traditional councils and school authorities to help sensitize the citizenry on the dangers such fire outbreaks caused to the society.