Tema, Dec 9, GNA - The Ashaiman and Tema New Town markets in the Tema Metropolis have no fire hydrants to replenish fire tenders engaged in fire fighting.

This was made known by Mr Gilford Tetteh Adams, Tema Regional Fire Officer on Thursday when he led a team of fire personnel and officers from the Metropolitan Office of the Electricity Company of Ghana, to inspect fire hydrants and illegal electricity connections at the markets. Mr Adams explained that the lack of fire hydrants in some areas, as well as the blocking and sealing of available ones, were some of the causes of shortage of water during fire fighting. He indicated that to rectify the problem, his outfit would write letters to the head office of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Ghana Water Company Limited and the District Assemblies, to provide hydrants in market centres.

Mr Adams said all regional fire officers were ordered by the Acting Chief Fire Officer, to embark on an exercise to educate the public, especially market women, on fire issues especially during the harmattan season. Mr Timothy Osafo-Affum, Tema Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, said all the six hydrants in the Tema Community One Market, had been blocked, since some market women had located their shops on them. He, therefore, called on the two assemblies to make fire hydrants available in the markets while access routes were also cleared. Mr Osafo-Affum said the nearest fire hydrant to the Ashaiman Market was about one kilometre away.

Mr Emmanuel Appoe, Protection and Control Engineer of the Tema Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), sounded a word of caution to people who engaged in illegal connection of electricity in markets. He said such people would be made to pay all the estimated units used, plus penalty when apprehended.

Mrs Leticia Ayaba, Ashaiman Market Queen, who interacted with the team, said efforts by traders to get legal electrical connections from the ECG, were often cumbersome, thus leading to illegal connections of the facility.