Takoradi, March 18, GNA- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the weekend asked traders in the country to team up with their colleagues to insure their trade against fire and other disasters. He also expressed the need for access routes to markets and other economic centres to ensure the timely intervention of the Ghana National Fire Service and other stakeholders in times of catastrophe. Vice President Mahama was addressing traders at the Takoradi market in the Western Region, where fire disaster caused massive havoc to goods and property last Thursday, at the start of a four-day working visit of the Western and Central regions. He said government has a special place for traders because of their contribution towards the economy and noted that disasters caused terrible lost to life and property that could not be replaced. Vice President Mahama said the Takoradi market disaster was "An irreversible accident. But we must look forward to avoiding future disasters". Addressing the staff and students of the Shama Secondary School as part of the third Speech and Prize Giving Day of the School, Alhaji Mahama asked the students to be disciplined in order to assume the role of future leaders of the country. He said, "Let your books be your friends so that you can make it. Be good citizens because the future is in your hands." Vice President Mahama attended the Silver Jubilee and Speech and Prize Giving Day of Mando Secondary Technical School where he promised to liase with the Ghana Education Trust Fund to get the school a bus. He also donated A220 million to the school during an appeal for funds. Mr. Edmund Donkor, headmaster, said the school which was established as an experimental educational institution had 47 acres of land for future expansion works and development. He appealed to the Government to build a fence wall around the school to prevent encroachers and intruders from taking the school's land. Mr. Donkor also asked for the building of a six-classroom block and a boarding house facility to accommodate the growing number of students. The school Prefect Master Rex Ruben Panfoid appealed for a library and books for the school.