Hon Michael Kwasi Aidoo
Oforikrom

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I rise today with a noble concern to address the alarming frequency of fire outbreaks in our markets and their devastating effects on lives, properties, businesses and the economy of Ghana.

The perennial fires inflict significant damage, disrupt livelihoods and businesses, and unleash severe pain on victims and their families. As representatives of the good people of Ghana, the least we can do is to charge our Executive to bring an end to these horrendous incidents and attendant destructions, loss of lives and properties.

It is reported that the Kantamanto Market fire on 2nd January, 2025, claimed one life, left several persons injured, 30,000 traders affected, and 7,000 shops destroyed. Few days before, there was a massive fire outbreak at Ashaiman Scrapyard near China Mall on 30th December, 2024, destroying 17 containers after the Tema Fire Service had saved 200 containers.

In the last four months or so, there has been a chronology of fire outbreaks in the Kumasi metropolis. We can recount the Sokoban Wood Market fire in October 2024, which affected a lot of business men from Oforikrom; then in December 2024, shops, properties and livelihoods of traders at the Racecourse Market in Kumasi were destroyed; fire destruction of houses and properties at Pankrono and Oforikrom followed, and on the 27th December, 2024, a church and local TV Station were lost to fierce fire at Krofurom; the worst occurred on 4th January, 2025, when fire ravaged through the Kwadaso Wood Market, destroying machinery, wood logs, and finished products.

Whilst fire victims in Accra and Kumasi were still counting their losses, another devastating fire broke out at the Aboabo Market in Tamale on 6th January, 2025, causing significant damage to several shops and properties.

Mr Speaker, each year, we witness the same sad story of loss of lives and destruction of farms, properties and businesses worth billions of Ghanaian Cedis to fire outbreaks. Whereas various reasons have always been adduced to the fires, including global warming, arson, faulty electrical devices and gadgets, illegal connections and sometimes the smell of political motivation

The continuous recurrence of these fires in our homes, markets, farms, cities and countryside, every year, informs us that we are still far from the root causes. Many Statements have been made on this subject matter on the Floor of this House. I, today, convey yet another one as a wake-up call on this august House for a serious non-partisan deliberation on the matter to find a lasting solution to this perennial national issue.

Mr Speaker, the scope of the fires is not confined to our urban and city markets. It extends to our forests, grasslands and farms, reflecting a global trend exhibited by climate change. The consequences of these fires contribute to physical and mental devastation, hardship and extreme poverty, as individuals lose their lifelong investments, capital and properties, and, sometimes, even loved ones.

It is imperative to know that the changing climate poses a significant threat to our agricultural sector, particularly our major cash crops. As weather patterns become increasingly erratic, the viability of crops such as cocoa, cashew and oil palm is jeopardised, threatening food security and the livelihoods of countless farmers.

We must recall the 1983 wildfires across the country, which ravaged swathes of forest land, crop farms and the cocoa landscape, changed Ghana’s ecology and left behind what became a historic two-year hunger crisis, and Ghana losing its position as the number one leading producer of cocoa. Even as of today, extremes of weather conditions continue to pose a serious threat to our cocoa sector, which is the mainstay of our economy.

As Parliamentarians, it is important for us to understand these phenomena to better prepare for climate-related disasters. We need only look to recent events in California and Los Angeles, where devastating wildfires have led to deaths, destroyed homes, displaced tens of thousands and resulted in significant economic losses. If what you are seeing can happen to well-resourced and wellequipped United States, then we are all forewarned, and to be forewarned is to be forearmed. This must, therefore, serve as a stark reminder for us as a developing nation to address our situation with urgency and effectiveness.

Mr Speaker, the recent fire outbreaks in Ghana are part of a broader global trend where climate change plays a pivotal role. The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires worldwide, driven by rising temperatures, prolonged droughts and shifting weather patterns, demand our immediate attention. As legislators, we must recognise these events as interconnected and driven by larger climate shifts. This understanding should guide our policy discussions and legislative actions, emphasising the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change.

We must prioritise investments in preventive measures, enhance our emergency response capabilities and foster international collaboration to address the root causes of these devastating fires. Our response must be proactive and multifaceted, ensuring the protection of lives, property and our environment.

Mr Speaker, the surge in wildfire incidents both in Ghana and globally is a stark reminder of the changing climate driven by global warming. Elevated temperatures and extended dry periods create ideal conditions of these destructive fires to ignite and spread. As weather patterns evolve, it is imperative that we remain vigilant and adopt environmentally responsible practices. We must focus on reducing deforestation, managing land use wisely and cutting down carbon emissions to mitigate the impact of these escalating climate threats.

Additionally, we must consider the influence of the El Nino and La Nina on climate extremes. El Nino events can lead to short-term climate changes, resulting in the spikes in global average surface temperature and increased wildfire risk. Conversely, La Nina can bring cooler temperatures and altered weather patterns, sometimes leading to flooding.

Understanding these climate phenomena is essential for forecasting and preparing for their impacts, ensuring that our institutions such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA), the Fire Service and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) are better equipped and resourced to handle the challenges posed by these natural variations.

Before concluding, I wish to extend my deepest condolences to families that have lost their loved ones and my heartfelt sympathy to all those affected by recent fires in Ghana, most especially my constituency, Oforikrom, and around the world. The losses are challenges on us as legislators and those in executive positions to make the future better and to remove pain in the way of the people we serve. As a nation, we must move away from the usual ad hoc to more proactive and preventive solutions to the perennial fire outbreaks in Ghana.

I, therefore, propose that Government undertakes full coverage assessments of the recent fire losses and come out with a relief package and budget and, with support of Parliament, extend meaningful assistance to the affected as they rebuild their lives.

In conclusion, it is our collective responsibility to take decisive action to protect our citizens and our environment from the growing threats of climate change, and all the elements that bring about fire outbreaks at homes, shops, markets, public properties, workplaces and other places.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon Maxwell Kwame Lukutor
South Tongu

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to associate myself with the Statement made by my Hon Colleague and to thank him so much for bringing this issue to the fore.

I have been a victim of fire on one occasion in my home. I was just fortunate I have a brave wife who was able to confront it head-on and before the Fire Service was even called in, she was able to put off the fire.

Within that short space of about five minutes, so much was destroyed. It was as a result of a small boy at home lighting candle after light out and it resulted in so much damage.

Mr Speaker, we want to look at what the Fire Service does to us in times of this nature. Of course, they always complain about the challenges they have with their facilities, the hydrants, even some of them without water. Sometimes as surveyors we are challenged about how the Fire Service can even get to our individual homes because of the poor planning practices that we have had over the period.

Mr Speaker, in as much as we want the Fire Service to attend to us, as quickly as possible and to help us salvage the situation we find ourselves in, Mr Speaker, I want to say that we need to look at our planning laws and not allow people to wantonly build on access routes that have been left based on our designs and planning.

I had to physically destroy people's attempt to want to build on some of their roads to be able to maintain some law and order because sometimes going to the Police or the planning authorities to come and put these things in order becomes a challenge. This is because sometimes people go behind the scenes and do things that we cannot speak of on camera.

Mr Speaker, beyond that, I also believe that with regard to the workers and the equipment they use, as a Government and a society, we should always be conscious of whether they have the facilities to use in fighting fire.

During my election, I had the opportunity to meet my Fire Service Unit in Sogakope, my district capital, and the report I got was that the last equipment was bought for them during the time of the former President, His Excellency Prof John Evans Atta Mills; may his soul rest in perfect peace. Beyond his time, no serious investment has been made into the Fire Service as a unit.

Sometimes, even if one goes to their places of residence and offices, the person will lament that are these the people we want to help us to fight fire at very short notices. I am helping them put up the office structure to make it more habitable. Maybe very soon, I would be done with that and then, I would inaugurate or commission that.

In as much as we look at ourselves and the damage caused to our property, we may also want to look at the conditions they find themselves in as workers who we want to help us fight fire in times of need.

I thank you so much, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity, and I pray that together as a people, we would help to resolve their issues of equipment, places of abode, and also their office space.

Hon Alfred Nii Kotey Ashie
Odododiodioo

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am highly honoured for this opportunity. My submission, as I draw authority from Order 93(5), would be brief.

Mr Speaker, it is, indeed, worrying that the rate at which fire is breaking out in the country without any form of control—Just September last year, Zongo Lane in Odododiodioo, my constituency, experienced one of the most terrible encounters of fire outbreak where a stretch from one junction to the other near the Rawlings Park got gutted down by fire.

The place got burnt for about a week without the Fire Service being able to put out the fire. In the end, families have been displaced, properties worth millions of dollars have all been razed down.

Mr Speaker, I believe we all know or we are all aware of the famous China Town, which harboured all the goods that were imported from China, also got burnt in that instance. Just this January, about a month ago, we experienced another terrible fire outbreak from the famous Kantamanto Market.

Mr Speaker, my amazement is the fact that we lack the capacity to put out fires when they breakout, and I believe this is something that we ought to look at strategically. We really have to investigate into why fires start and we are unable to put it out until it razes down everything.

In the case of Kantamanto, I admit we have lots of wooden structures over there which also catalyse the fire, but, amazingly, the Regional Fire Service Post at Tudu was just in the proximity. Unfortunately, they found themselves helpless, and they were unable to do anything about it.

Mr Speaker, my inquiry established that, in the first place, the fire hydrants all over the area were dried up, which is another matter we really need to look at because it looks like we have a serious water challenge in the city. A city, such as Accra, should not face such a situation, and I must say that, in a constituency like Odododiodioo, which is in the centre of the world, water does not flow in our taps. This is something, I am sure, we ought to look at and tackle with all seriousness.

Mr Speaker, the fire service officers told me in this regard that they do not have any modern equipment that would aid them put out the fire. They established that the last time the fire service was equipped was in the era of the late President Professor Mills and His Excellency John Mahama and that to date they have not received any single piece of equipment to facilitate their job.

Finally, Mr Speaker, I also think that the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA) planning departments should also be called and questioned. They ought to do their work diligently because one of the major challenges has to do with planning. In some way, somehow, fire tenders are not able to make their way to the venues where fires break out and it is one of the reasons fires get burnt out and we are unable to put them out.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I also say that we need to look at this case of fire outbreaks seriously enough just so we prevent the happenings. We do not get to see the reports of the investigations conducted by the Fire Service and the Police which indicate the causative factors of said fires.

I believe that once the reports are out and we get to know them, it will also aid the public to help. Thank you.

Hon Ralph Poku-Adusei
Bekwai

Thank you, Mr Speaker. First of all, when it comes to experience, I do not think that there is any Member on this floor who has received their first share in terms of fire outbreak better than me.

If I recall, on 26th December 2018, I lost my house to fire at a fault that had nothing to do with me, but with the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG). My entire household was razed down by fire in 2018 and this is a matter of public information.

Mr Speaker, I understand how it feels to lose or to be a victim of a fire outbreak. That being said, what I want to raise on this Floor is three main issues. First of all, our National Fire Service is grossly under-resourced. And why do I say that?

The Fire Service Station was about a minute or two minutes’ walk away from my house. When this incident was happening, it took us less than five minutes to walk to the station and believe it or not, there was no water in their track. The track was not functioning and the worst of it all, we could not even file a complaint to them.

We would have to file the complaint to the national unit and have it relayed to the district where they would relay information to that particular Ashaiman substation, which is closer to Trassaco. So, the problem or the issue has nothing to do with post-fire evaluation or what have you. It is simply a case of looking at how the Fire Service can be resourced.

Mr Speaker, I think this is a clarion call on the Government to see how they can put in adequate resources to help our fire service to function. In my constituency, just last two weeks, I have had to take my money to buy an engine for our fire service to put in their track to be able to serve the constituency, which must not be the case.

To add to that, I have had to buy megaphones and other facilities to be able to get them on their tracks to provide education to my constituents on how to arrest or prevent fire outbreaks. So, this to me, adds to the beautiful and wonderful presentation of my Colleague from Oforikrom, with what my Colleague lawyer from Suame has said—

Yes, Mr Speaker, to sum it up, as much as we are arguing that the Government should do something about it, I feel that what the Government must do is to look at resourcing the Fire Service to enable them to do their job properly.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, and if I am given the opportunity, perhaps I would also present a paper on this to enhance this argument because this is a canker that must be arrested with immediate effect.