Annual fire ritual of Dangomba line and others

Sometimes one begins to wonder whether there is any hope for the future of this country called Ghana. 

Fire outbreaks at particular spots have become an annual ritual and so you ask yourself, can nothing be done to prevent the recurrence of these disasters? 

There is an Akan proverb which says it is only a fool who will allow his delicate part to be stepped on twice, but it appears the people at the helm of affairs are not aware of this proverb. 

Fire disasters occur and we hear of investigations being launched and that is the end of it.  If lessons are learnt, it is to be expected that measures would have been put in place to prevent the recurrence of the very same incident a year later. 

Places like Dagomba Line in Kumasi, Red Flats or so at Adenta, Kantamanto and a few other places are known fire disaster prone areas and we must put an end to this annual ritual.

The social cost of these fire disasters is enormous aside from the financial implications for the owners of property lost in the disaster.  A TV interview I watched, showed a despondency written over the faces of victims of the fire disaster. 

One of the victims interviewed, indicated that all his belongings are gone with the blaze and further indicated that the clothes he was wearing were the only attire he has left after the fire disaster.  The trauma these victims go through is not child’s play. 

The state has a responsibility towards such vulnerable people and everything must be done to find a permanent solution to this recurring disaster.  We cannot throw our hands up in the air as if we lack capacity to resolve such issues as a nation.  When lives are lost in addition to properties, the trauma level becomes unbearable and people can easily lose their mind.

Proactive preventive actions are required to nib these fire disasters in the bud.  There are certain issues in the fire prevention architecture that must be dealt with. 

Recently, the fire service was complaining of hydrant points being made inoperative by individuals who have built structures on them.  This clearly limits the firefighting personnel’s ability to successfully fight fire outbreaks in certain localities. 

Local assemblies must be proactive by enforcing compliance by demolishing structures built on fire hydrant points and punishing offenders.  This will greatly aid in our firefighting efforts when they do occur. 

The Fire Service must liase with the local assemblies to identify other fire hydrant points as the population increases and development expands so distances from hydrant points to fire outbreaks are within distance.

 The disturbing incidence of attacks on fire personnel that are emerging is becoming worrying.  Law enforcement agencies must assist the fire fighters in carrying out their legitimate duties safely, anytime they are called into action.

Education of the public regarding the duties of the fire fighters and the challenges they face in the execution of their duties must be encouraged, so people would see them as saviours and not villains who deliberately waste time to let properties get destroyed. 

Implementation of recommendations of previous fire incident investigations, must be fully implemented so as to prevent recurrence.  The issue of haphazard construction of structures without providing access for vehicles such that in the event of fire outbreak, fire tenders can get close to the source to quench it, must be of serious concern to the local assemblies.

NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’

By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson

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