National Director for NADMO Mr. Eric Agyeman Prempeh has sent a strong warning to traders plying their business within the Kejetia market facility.
He announced on Monday that any trader found cooking within any of the shops of the facility will be arrested and prosecuted by government.
Management on the other hand has also vowed to sanction traders who will engage the service of welders, electricians and carpenters who have not been approved by officials.
According to the Manager of the facility Mr. Kofi Duffour, shops of first time offenders will be locked for 24 hours.
Second offenders will also have their shops locked for 48 hours and will be made to sign a bond.
However, third offenders according to the new trade code as explained by him will be evicted from the facility.
These were disclosed when the Director of NADMO paid an official call on Management of facility as part of a day’s working visit to the region.
The decision is aimed at forestalling the reoccurrence of fire outbreak and any unpleasant happenings.
In a dialogue with the Manager, the NADMO Director disclosed that he was shocked when he received news on the fire outbreak that occurred within the market few days ago.
“I personally came from Accra together with my team to do proper inspection before it (facility) began operation so I was shocked when we heard that there has been some fire outbreak in the market…
NADMO investigations revealed that it is not the fault of management but rather the fault of occupants of the various stalls in the sense that how can you be working in your store and be cooking in the store.
There are a lot of restaurants, not one but many restaurants within the market so if you want food you can walk to the restaurant or send someone to buy food for you…How can you be cooking in your shop?
I am taking this opportunity to respectfully appeal and send warning to the traders in Kejetia market that from today, if anybody is seen cooking or bringing an outside carpenter, welder or electrician without recourse to what management has put in place, that person will be arrested and prosecuted.”
VISIT
Apart from Kejetia, the NADMO Director also inspected areas at Krofrom within the Manhyia North constituency that were razed down by fire and to also access the level of damage.
He also visit Onyina nofo; a community located within the Ahafo Ano South West District where close to 10 households were also razed down by fire between the hours of 12:00 noon and 1:30 pm on Monday.
The fire occurred when a fuel tanker samersaulted and exploded after colliding head-on with a commercial ford vehicle with registration number As 2950-18.
Source; www.leakynews.net