Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for a comprehensive assessment of the recent Accra Central Market fire, urging authorities to establish the root causes of the incident before embarking on reconstruction or redevelopment efforts.
The Vice President made the call during a visit to the market on Friday, June 5, to inspect the damage caused by the blaze, which destroyed shops and goods belonging to traders at one of the capital’s busiest commercial centres.
Accompanied by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak, Inspector General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno, the Accra Mayor and other government officials, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang expressed concern about the condition of the affected facility and the risks it may have posed prior to the disaster.
Speaking during the visit, the Vice President stressed that understanding the circumstances that led to the fire is critical to preventing similar incidents in the future.
“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 pressure to provide immediate solutions for affected traders, authorities must first conduct a detailed evaluation of the structure and its management history.
She noted that any future intervention should be informed by facts and technical assessments rather than urgency alone.
Questions Over Market Infrastructure
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also raised concerns about the original design and capacity of the facility, saying officials need to determine whether the structure was being used as intended.
“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 avoid repeating the same situation.” - Prof. Opoku-Agyemang
Her comments underscore growing concerns about safety standards and infrastructure management in major commercial centres across the country.
The Vice President commended personnel of the emergency services for their swift response in containing the fire and preventing further destruction.
She added that while proposals for redevelopment, including the possibility of constructing modern multi-storey facilities, may be explored in the future, such decisions must be guided by expert recommendations and comprehensive safety reviews.
The fire has reignited discussions about market safety, infrastructure maintenance and disaster preparedness in Ghana’s urban centres, with authorities expected to begin investigations into the cause of the incident.
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