The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has been directed to conduct a nation-wide inspection of all markets with a view to look out for all illegal connections in the markets.
According to a statement signed by a Deputy Minister for Information and Media Relations, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the ECG is expected to move immediately to begin the exercise. He explained that illegal connections have been identified as one of the causes of fires in the markets.
He noted that government has also directed the security agencies to coordinate with the management of the ECG to apprehend and prosecute any person or group of persons found to have engaged in illegal electrical connections in the markets.
The directives form part of measures by government to curb the recent spate of fire outbreaks in markets around the country.
According to Mr. Kwakye Ofosu, government is assuring traders and the general public that it will adopt all measures necessary to prevent the outbreak of further fires in our markets.
He, however, urged the public and those operating in the markets to remain vigilant and be careful with the electrical equipment and connections in their stalls.