Accra, April 19, 2025 — The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is urging authorities at Kantamanto Market to reconstruct the facility using modern fire safety standards, following ongoing concerns about the market’s vulnerability to fire outbreaks.

Speaking on Channel One Newsroom, the Greater Accra Regional Fire Commander, ACFO II Rashid Nisawu, said that although reconstruction efforts have been made in the past, the continued use of wooden materials such as wawa boards and plywood leaves the market at serious risk.

“They have reconstructed the market, but I’m on record saying that until we dedicate these markets to modern standards — with smoke detectors, heat detectors, flame detectors, and fire-resistant materials — we will continue to face challenges,” Nisawu warned.

🚨 Market Dwelling Increases Risk
ACFO II Nisawu also expressed concern about traders using market spaces as residences overnight, a practice he described as dangerous and non-compliant with fire safety regulations.

“Markets should open in the morning and close by evening. When people use them as dwelling places, the fire risk becomes even higher,” he added.

🔧 Call for Structural Reform
He called on city planners, market authorities, and relevant stakeholders to commit to a full overhaul of Kantamanto and similar markets, shifting away from combustible construction methods to modern, resilient infrastructure.

“Let’s move away from these wooden structures — wawa boards and plywood — and invest in proper, fire-resistant designs,” he said.

🔎 The Bigger Picture
Kantamanto, one of Accra’s busiest commercial hubs, has experienced multiple fires over the years, often leaving traders devastated and prompting calls for better fire safety enforcement. The GNFS hopes that a long-term, structural approach will finally bring lasting safety and stability to one of the capital’s most vital marketplaces.