Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for a comprehensive investigation into the recent fire outbreak at the Accra Central Market, stressing the need to determine the root causes of the incident to prevent similar disasters in the future.
The Vice President made the call during a visit to the market on Friday, June 5, to assess the extent of damage caused by the blaze, which affected several traders at one of the capital’s busiest commercial centres.
She was accompanied by Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo, Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak, Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno, the Accra Mayor, and other government officials.
Expressing concern about the condition of the affected structure, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged authorities to conduct a thorough assessment of the facility before embarking on any reconstruction or emergency intervention measures.
“What is the state of this building? For how long has it been in this near-disaster condition? We need to examine all of these issues so we don’t repeat the situation,” she stated.
According to her, while there is an urgent need to support affected traders and restore normalcy, decisions regarding redevelopment must be guided by technical evaluations and safety considerations.
The Vice President also questioned whether the facility was being used in line with its original design and capacity, noting that a detailed review would help authorities identify lapses and implement lasting solutions.
“We need to find out exactly what went wrong. How many people was this building meant to accommodate, and what actually happened? That is the only way we can avoid repeating the same situation,” she added.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang commended emergency responders for their swift intervention in containing the fire and preventing further damage.
She further noted that although proposals for redevelopment, including the possibility of constructing a modern high-rise facility, may be considered, any such decision should be informed by expert assessments rather than the urgency of the moment.
